Rush: Beaches, Kitesurfing and History

If you are considering Rush as a place to stay, its beaches, kitesurfing and history offer distinct points of interest. Rush South Beach combines a stretch of coastline with the popular activity of kitesurfing; Rush Tower House and St Catherine’s Church add a historical dimension. In the wider destination of County Fingal, you can also compare Rush with other beaches. This makes it possible to plan your stay around whether the coast, a watersport activity or historic sites should take centre stage.

Beach and kitesurfing at Rush South Beach

Rush South Beach is 2.4 km long and bordered by a well-developed dune system. Prevailing winds and tides make the beach an extremely popular place for kitesurfing. This puts two distinct aspects side by side when planning a beach visit: the stretch of coastline itself and an activity shaped by natural conditions. Rush South Beach is a 45-minute walk from Rush railway station. If you are considering the station and beach within a single day, this walking time is a separate factor to take into account.

Historical landmarks in Rush and the surrounding area

Rush Tower House is a 15th-century tower house; St Catherine’s Church in Rush is a medieval church. Together, they offer two distinct historical landmarks in the town. If you are interested in history, you can consider a tower house and a medieval church as separate places to visit. Kenure House is nearby, two miles north of the centre of Rush. The portico is the only surviving part of the former manor house. As the manor house’s sole surviving element, the portico offers an additional historical point of interest in the surrounding area.

Rush in the wider coastal setting of County Fingal

The wider destination of County Fingal has a coastline that includes three protected estuaries, salt marshes and 13 major beaches. Rush South Beach is 2.4 km long. For comparison, Skerries South Strand is 2 km long, Balcarrick Beach in Donabate is 3.4 km, and Velvet Strand in Portmarnock is 5 km. This places Rush South Beach between the shorter Skerries South Strand and the longer beaches in Donabate and Portmarnock. The coastal features described also vary: Balcarrick Beach has dunes and rock pools, while Skerries South Strand has a promenade and a coastal path. Velvet Strand is a five-kilometre-long sandy beach. This comparison gives an overview of the different beach sizes and landscape features found in County Fingal.

Tailor your stay to your interests

Rush South Beach, kitesurfing and Rush’s historic buildings define the local setting; Kenure House is nearby. The examples from County Fingal broaden the comparison to beaches in Portmarnock, Donabate and Skerries. You can weigh up whether to focus on Rush as your specific destination or explore a wider stretch of the County Fingal coastline.

Discover more destinations: Balbriggan, Donabate, Swords, Ward, Malahide, Cloghran, Gormanston, Lusk

For the wider travel guide: County Fingal.