DAERA advises against swimming at Rea’s Wood during 2026 bathing season

Rea’s Wood at Loughshore Park, Antrim

Bathers are being advised to stay out of the water at Rea’s Wood on Lough Neagh this summer after the site was again classified as “poor” for water quality due to faecal contamination and recurring blue-green algae.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has advised against bathing at Rea’s Wood on Lough Neagh in Antrim, councillors have been told.

A report presented to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Operations Committee at a meeting in Antrim Civic Centre on Monday evening, June 8, said that DAERA has recommended that an ‘Advice Against Bathing’ notice be placed at Rea’s Wood for the duration of the 2026 bathing season.

The committee report stated:

“This position will remain under ongoing review, informed by continued water quality monitoring and assessment.”

Rea’s Wood was nominated by the local authority as a potential official bathing water site during a DAERA bathing waters review. As a result, routine water quality monitoring is carried out by DAERA, with samples collected and analysed during bathing seasons.

The committee report stated:

“Following completion of the statutory assessment at the end of the 2025 bathing season, Rea’s Wood was classified as ‘poor’ under the Bathing Water Regulations.

“This classification was determined based on monitoring results relating to both faecal indicator organisms and the presence of blue-green algae.

“Where a bathing water is assigned a ‘poor’ classification, DAERA is required to implement appropriate management measures aimed at reducing, and where possible preventing, bathers’ exposure to pollution.”

The report explained that these measures are “intended to ensure that public health is safeguarded at all designated bathing sites and will remain under review through continued water quality monitoring and assessment”.

Airport Sinn Féin Councillor Annemarie Logue commented:

“I am very disappointed this is the case again this year. This was a very popular bathing site.”

An officer indicated the site’s classification has been affected by faecal contamination as well as blue-green algae and said there will be ongoing monitoring throughout the bathing season.

Antrim Alliance Councillor Neil Kelly emphasised the need to ensure there is “plenty of signage” at the location.

“We had issues before when signage was not visible enough,” he said.

Separately, an investigation into recurring blue-green algae in Lough Neagh is being planned from the shore at Rea’s Wood.

Following a preliminary site assessment, a company has identified Rea’s Wood as “a particularly suitable location for the deployment of its equipment during the summer months”.

Varicon Aqua Solutions Limited has formally approached the council to request permission to use Antrim Lough Shore to facilitate a programme of investigative works.

Councillors were informed previously:

“Following a preliminary site assessment, the company has identified Rea’s Wood as a particularly suitable location for the deployment of its equipment during the summer months due to the area’s well-documented history of significant and recurring algal bloom activity.”