If you’ve ever timed a coastal walk only to find the beach swallowed by water, you know the value of a solid tide prediction. For anyone spending time along Ireland’s coast—whether you’re a walker, a swimmer, or someone working around Dublin Port—knowing when high tide arrives matters. This guide brings together today’s predicted tide times for Dublin, Cork, and several other Irish spots, all pulled from the same harmonic data models used by tide forecasters.

4 related posts

High tides per day: 2 · Lunar day length: 24 hours 50 minutes · Tidal cycle interval: 12 hours 25 minutes · Common tide pattern: Semidiurnal

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Minor height differences between sources—Dublin Port official tables may show slightly different values than commercial tide apps
  • Real-time observations not available; all data represents model predictions
3Timeline signal
  • Dublin low tide sits at 11:50 AM IST (1.06 m) before second high arrives at 06:56 PM IST
  • Cork’s 00:29 high on April 25 precedes morning ebb toward afternoon
4What’s next
  • Check tide tables for your exact spot before planning any coastal activity
  • Bookmark official Dublin Port tide tables for reliable forecasts when maritime safety is a concern

Tidal data for Irish coastal locations draws from the same harmonic models used by port authorities and commercial forecasting services.

Label Value
Primary tide sites Tide Forecast, TidesChart
Forecast method Harmonic tidal data
Irish focus Dublin, Cork, Galway
Update frequency Daily predictions

The predicted tide times today on Friday 24 April 2026 for Dublin are: first high tide at 5:57am.

— Tide Forecast, Tide Prediction Service

What time is the highest tide today?

For Dublin on April 24, 2026, the morning high tide peaks at 05:57 AM IST with a height of 3.5 meters, according to Tide Forecast Dublin. The evening brings a second high at 06:56 PM IST, measured at 3.31 meters. Between those peaks, a low tide sits at 11:50 AM IST at just 1.06 meters.

General tide predictions

Dublin tides follow a semidiurnal pattern—meaning two high tides and two low tides every lunar day. That lunar day runs about 24 hours 50 minutes, which is why tide times shift slightly later each day compared to regular clock time.

Factors affecting highest tide

  • The moon’s position drives tidal forces; spring tides (not related to the season) produce the highest highs when sun and moon align
  • Coastal shape amplifies or dampens tidal range; the Irish Sea tends toward moderate swings compared to more dramatic Atlantic-exposed shores
  • Weather systems—strong winds or low pressure—can temporarily elevate water levels beyond predicted heights
Bottom line: Dublin’s highest tide today reaches 3.5 m at 5:57 AM IST. The pattern repeats roughly every 12 hours 25 minutes, producing two highs daily.

What time is high tide in Cork today?

Cork sits on Ireland’s south coast, more exposed to Atlantic swells than Dublin. Cork City registers a high tide at 00:29 on April 25 with a predicted height of 3.66 meters, according to Tides Today Cork City. The afternoon brings a second predicted high around 07:24 at approximately 1.36 meters—markedly lower, suggesting a neap tide phase when lunar pull weakens.

Cork tide chart

Comparing data across tide services reveals how Cork’s Atlantic exposure produces notably higher peaks than Dublin’s sheltered Irish Sea location.

Location Typical High Tide Exposure
Dublin (Irish Sea) ~3.5 m Sheltered
Cork (Atlantic) ~4.0 m+ Exposed

Commercial tide services like Tide Forecast Cork and TidesChart Cork display Cork tides as graphs showing rising and falling curves. Reading a tide chart means matching the curve’s peak to a time and reading the vertical axis for height.

Cobh nearby times

Cobh sits within Cork Harbour, and its tides track closely with Cork City. The harbor’s enclosed shape means water patterns follow similar rhythms, though local geography can shift actual times by 10-20 minutes.

Bottom line: Cork’s southern exposure produces higher peak tides—samples show readings up to 4.05 m compared to Dublin’s typical 3.5 m. Always check the specific spot in the harbor, as Cobh and Cork City times may vary slightly.

Use our tide tables to find out the tidal movements around Dublin Port. We update this regularly.

— Dublin Port, Official Port Authority

What time is high tide in Dun Laoghaire?

Dun Laoghaire sits in Dublin Bay along the Irish Sea. Its tides track the Dublin pattern closely since both locations share the same body of water. Tide Forecast Dun Laoghaire shows high times aligning with Dublin’s 05:57 AM and 06:56 PM peaks, with heights typically hovering around 3.6-3.9 meters, per Tides4Fishing Dublin data.

Dublin area tides

The Dublin Bay area—including Dun Laoghaire, Sandycove’s Forty Foot, Sandymount, and Seapoint—experiences nearly identical tidal timing. What varies is how water moves through local features: harbours trap water differently than open beaches, and the Forty Foot’s rocky cove creates different currents than Dun Laoghaire’s piers.

Malahide and nearby

Malahide sits slightly north of Dublin Bay but still within the Irish Sea tidal system. Times track Dublin’s schedule within minutes, with Tide Forecast Malahide offering location-specific predictions. For swimmers and walkers, this means the same general windows apply—just verify on the exact page before heading out.

The catch

Harbour locations like Dun Laoghaire and Malahide can have water trapped at higher levels even after the bay tide drops. If you’re planning to launch a kayak or dinghy, check your specific launch point’s conditions, not just the general bay forecast.

The implication: harbour geography creates local variations that general bay forecasts don’t capture—always verify your specific access point.

Is today a high tide near me?

For most people along Ireland’s coast, the answer lies within a few taps. Tide Forecast maintains location pages for dozens of Irish spots. Type your nearest town into their search, select the right entry (they sometimes list multiple nearby options), and you’ll see today’s high and low times with heights. You can find today’s high tide times for Dublin and Cork at Irlands tidevandstider. Irlands tidevandstider

Finding local tides

Start with tide-forecast.com or TidesChart—both let you search by place name and show 7-day forecasts. Select your exact location from the search results to get accurate times for that specific spot. Differences of even a few kilometers along coast can shift actual tide times by 15-30 minutes.

Popular Irish spots

  • Laytown (Co. Meath): Beach village on the East Coast, tide times track Dublin closely
  • Forty Foot (Sandycove): Famous swimming spot with consistent tide followers who know the local patterns well
  • Sandymount Strand: Dublin’s popular beach—the tide covers and uncovers it reliably, making timing essential
  • Galway: West coast exposure means slightly different tidal rhythms than Dublin
Why this matters

For swimmers: high tide means deeper water at favourite entry points like the Forty Foot. For walkers: low tide reveals Sandymount Strand’s famous sand. Match your activity to the tide, and the experience improves dramatically.

How long does the tide stay high before it turns?

The tide doesn’t peak and immediately drop—it plateaus briefly before the ebb begins. From high to low, roughly six hours pass, with about an hour of near-still water at both the high and low extremes called “slack water.” Tide Forecast Dublin models this rhythm using harmonic analysis.

Tide duration basics

The semidiurnal cycle means two complete flood-ebb patterns each lunar day. Each pattern breaks down as: rising tide (roughly 6 hours) → slack (30-60 minutes) → falling tide (roughly 6 hours) → slack again. For coastal safety, this means you typically have a 2-3 hour window around high tide when water depths are near maximum.

Lunar day influence

The 24-hour 50-minute lunar day explains why Dublin’s high tide arrives about 50 minutes later each calendar day. The moon returns to the same position relative to Earth roughly every 24 hours 50 minutes, and tides follow that gravitational rhythm. This shift accumulates—so tide times today won’t match tide times next week at the same clock hour.

Bottom line: High tide holds for roughly an hour before retreating. Plan water activities for 2-3 hours before or after the peak to catch the tide running rather than slack.

Related reading: Dublin to Galway Train Timetable · 261 Bus Timetable Cork

Additional sources

tide-forecast.com, tideschart.com, tide-forecast.com, surfline.com, tidesnear.me, tides.today, westcorkkayakclub.com

While Dublin hits 05:57 AM and Cork 00:29, NOAA tide predictions detail peaks for other Irish coastal stations today.

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Frequently asked questions

What causes high tides?

Tides result from the moon’s gravitational pull on Earth’s oceans. The side facing the moon bulges upward while the opposite side bulges on a smaller scale. As Earth rotates through these bulges, locations experience rising and falling water levels. The sun contributes roughly 30% of the tidal force, amplifying or reducing the moon’s effect depending on their alignment.

How accurate are tide predictions?

Modern tide predictions use harmonic analysis—mathematical models that account for dozens of tidal constituents. These models typically predict times within 15 minutes of actual events for standard conditions. However, storms, sustained winds, or unusual atmospheric pressure can shift real water levels beyond what harmonic models forecast. For critical maritime decisions, always cross-check against official port tables.

Where to find tide charts for Ireland?

The most reliable sources include tide-forecast.com and TidesChart.com for comprehensive coverage across Irish coastal locations. Dublin Port publishes official tide tables for maritime users. TidesChart also offers dedicated apps for mobile access, showing location-specific data with seven-day forecasts.

What is a tide chart?

A tide chart displays predicted water levels over time, usually as a graph with time on the horizontal axis and height on the vertical axis. The resulting curve shows when tides rise, reach their highest point, and fall. Swimmers, fishers, and coastal walkers use these charts to identify windows when water depths suit their activities.

Do tides vary by location in Ireland?

Yes. Tidal patterns differ across Ireland’s coast due to coastline shape, water depth, and exposure to Atlantic swells versus enclosed seas. Dublin (Irish Sea) typically sees highs around 3.5 meters. Cork’s south coast, more exposed to Atlantic tidal energy, can reach 4 meters or higher. Even short distances—say from Cork City to Cobh—may show minor timing variations.

When do low tides occur relative to high?

Low tide follows high tide by roughly 6 hours and 12.5 minutes. The semidiurnal pattern produces two high-low pairs per lunar day, so knowing one high time lets you estimate the rest. Dublin on April 24 shows this clearly: high at 05:57 AM, low at 11:50 AM, then high again at 06:56 PM.

How to check tides on mobile?

Visit tide-forecast.com or TidesChart in your mobile browser—they work well without an app. Search for your location, confirm the date, and read the times. TidesChart offers dedicated apps for iOS and Android with location saving. Always verify you’re on the exact spot page—common search results sometimes show nearby locations rather than your chosen beach or harbour.

For anyone planning coastal activities along Ireland’s shores—walkers hitting Sandymount at low tide, swimmers heading to the Forty Foot, or maritime operators working Dublin Port—the tools exist to get accurate predictions. Dublin Port’s official tables serve as the gold standard for professional use, while Tide Forecast covers the widest range of recreational spots with reliable forecasts. Bookmark one of these sources, enter your nearest location, and you’ll always know whether the tide is coming in or going out.