First national map reveals where Ireland’s coast is most exposed to erosion and flooding

8 Sep 2026

• New research provides the first national-scale picture of coastal exposure to climate hazards around Ireland.
• The study identifies coastal communities and heritage sites along Ireland’s most exposed stretches of coastline.
• Findings show that 38% of Ireland’s coastline benefits from potential exposure reduction provided by coastal habitats.

The first national map of Ireland’s exposure to climate hazards, including rising sea levels and storm surges, has identified the stretches of coastline facing the greatest pressures, providing critical new evidence to support coastal management and climate adaptation.

The research, led by University College Cork (UCC) researchers, assessed approximately 8,575 km of Ireland’s coastline at 250-metre intervals, bringing together 30 years of wind and wave data with information on sea-level rise, storm surges, shoreline type, coastal relief and natural habitats.

This study has developed the ‘Coastal Exposure Index for Ireland’, which provides, for the first time, a consistent national-scale assessment of exposure around Ireland’s coast and identifies areas where people, cultural heritage and other coastal assets are particularly exposed.

Global mean sea levels are projected to rise by up to 1.1 metres above 1900 levels by 2100. Approximately 40% of Ireland’s population lives within 5 km of the coast and more than 130,000 people live in areas less than five metres above mean sea level.

Researchers have also launched a new interactive online map – viewable online – that the public can use to explore coastal exposure to climate hazards across Ireland and better understand the risks facing coastal areas.

Galway and Dublin communities facing high exposure

The study identifies where coastal communities across Ireland are most exposed to climate-related hazards, mapping populations living at varying distances from coastline across exposure categories.

The findings reveal that:

• More than 20,000 people in Dublin and 9,971 people in Galway City live within 500 metres of coastline classified as “Very High Exposure”
• Sandymount, Blackrock, Clontarf, Sutton and Baldoyle are identified in the study as high exposure areas in Dublin.
• Mayo records the greatest extent of “Very High Exposure” (414.5 km), while Galway County has the highest length of both “High Exposure” (330 km) and “Moderate Exposure” (297 km) coastline.
• Cork County has Ireland’s greatest length of coastline classified as “Low Exposure” (435 km) and “Very Low Exposure” (485 km), largely reflecting its extensive elevated, rocky shoreline, which is less vulnerable to coastal hazards than low-lying sandy and sedimentary coasts.
• Despite Cork’s predominantly lower-exposure coastline, significant areas of “Very High Exposure” remain, particularly around low-lying coastal settlements and embayments, including Castletownbere, Cobh, Garryvoe and Youghal.

Ireland’s coastal heritage sites face ‘Very High Exposure’

The study also reveals the exposure of Ireland’s coastal heritage to climate-related hazards. Raths, promontory forts and ancient coastal burial grounds are among the heritage sites located in areas exposed to coastal erosion, flooding and storm impacts.

In particular the study found:

• Of the 8,871 registered cultural heritage sites located within 500 metres of the coast, 1,797, or one in five, are within “Very High Exposure” zones, with many concentrated along the west coast.
• Significant exposure is evident in remote areas, including Inishmurray, County Sligo, where 132 registered monuments are located on the uninhabited island.

Natural habitats provide a vital protective defence against climate hazards

The study provides a new evidence base for identifying communities where more detailed local assessment and climate adaptation planning is needed.

Historically, solutions to coastal erosion in Ireland have involved hard, engineered structures such as rock revetments, sea walls and groynes.

This study illustrates the critical role of natural coastal habitats in reducing exposure to climate hazards for both communities and cultural heritage. Sand dunes, saltmarsh, machair and seagrass have the potential to reduce exposure along 38% of Ireland’s coastline, by lessening the intensity of wave impact, stabilising shorelines and adapting to sea level rise.

Their protective impact is particularly significant for Ireland’s coastal heritage, the study finds that of1,797 registered heritage sites are currently located within 500 metres of “Very High Exposure” coastline, but without the protective effect of natural habitats, this figure could rise by 18% to 2,118 sites.

The study also highlights how natural coastal habitats can reduce exposure to wave-driven hazards. For example, In Dublin Bay, Bull Island contributes to this protective function by acting as a natural buffer to wave energy.

Study lead Kevin Walsh, geoscientist and researcher in the DETECT (Digital Environmental Technology for Enhanced Coastal Zone Management) project at UCC, said: “This research gives us, for the first time, a consistent picture of relative climate exposure right around Ireland’s coastline. What is particularly clear is that exposure varies considerably from place to place, meaning effective adaptation must take account of local coastal conditions.”

“Our findings underline the significance of Ireland’s natural coastal habitats as a critical line of defence against climate hazards. Dunes, saltmarshes, machair and seagrass can help protect our coastline, communities and heritage from growing climate pressures. Protecting and restoring these habitats must be a priority in Ireland’s coastal adaptation response, alongside other approaches to coastal adaptation.”

Inaction risks people’s lives, homes and livelihoods

The researchers say the national Coastal Exposure Index can help government, policymakers, local authorities and coastal communities identify areas that may require closer assessment and support the prioritisation of adaptation measures and resources.

Dr Aaron Lim, Senior Lecturer in Marine Geosciences at UCC College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences and Head of the Earth and Ocean Lab at the Sustainability Institute, said: “This research gives Ireland a unique opportunity to be proactive rather than reactive. For the first time, we can identify where exposure to coastal climate hazards is greatest and use that evidence to guide national strategy and targeted regional action.”

“The decisions we make over the coming decade will shape how well our communities, infrastructure, businesses and cultural heritage can adapt to rising seas, coastal flooding and erosion,” Dr Lim said.

The Coastal Exposure Index provides a robust, nationally consistent measure of relative exposure to coastal climate hazards, enabling direct comparison of conditions across Ireland’s coastline. It is designed as a strategic evidence and decision-support tool, identifying areas of heightened exposure where more detailed local assessment and adaptation planning should be prioritised. The Index complements site-specific flood and erosion modelling.