description Portmarnock Beach Overview
Portmarnock Beach, also known as the Velvet Strand, is a sandy coastline in the village of Portmarnock in Fingal, County Dublin, Ireland, facing the Irish Sea. It gained historical significance in June 1930 as the takeoff site for the Southern Cross, the aircraft in which Australian aviator Charles Kingsford Smith completed the first east-to-west aerial crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. The beach remains a recreational area for residents of Dublin and surrounding communities.
help Portmarnock Beach FAQ
What is Portmarnock Beach also called?
Portmarnock Beach is widely known as the Velvet Strand. It is a sandy coastline at Portmarnock in Fingal, County Dublin, facing the Irish Sea.
Why is Portmarnock Beach associated with aviation history?
On 23 June 1930, Charles Kingsford Smith and his crew took off from the beach in the Southern Cross. The flight continued westward from Ireland toward Newfoundland and then on to Oakland.
Where is Portmarnock Beach located relative to Dublin?
It is in the village of Portmarnock, in County Dublin on Ireland's east coast. The beach faces the Irish Sea and forms part of the long Velvet Strand coastline.
What was the Southern Cross flight from Portmarnock?
The Southern Cross was the aircraft used by Australian aviator Charles Kingsford Smith for a westbound transatlantic flight in 1930. Its Portmarnock departure is one of the beach's best-known historical associations.
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