If you were heading out for a dip this evening at Sandymount Strand, then you're out of luck. 

The Dublin City Council have decided to issue a temporary ban on public bathing at Sandymount Strand as a result of water tests coming back with less than satisfactory results. With the weather outside hotting up a bit, this will surely come as a disappointment to a few people, but the reasons for the ban are still unknown. 

The DCC explain on their site that water quality came in below the minimum bathing standards, but that this could be due to a number of causes, including "weather and tidal conditions, faecal matter from dogs and birds and temporary overflows from drains". We're not thrilled about the bit where they mention faecal matter and drains, we have to say. 

Anyway, they go on to say that the falls in water quality are probably temporary and they will perform further tests to ensure that they return to normal, with updates provided on the DCC's social media channels

It has now also emerged that swimming bans are also in place for Killiney Beach, White Rock and Sandycove thanks to high levels of E Coli.