Surf’s up, come and join us on the Wild Atlantic Way

Ireland is fast becoming a serious contender in the surfing world with 90’ high waves hitting the Irish coast last winter, drawing top surfers from all over the world to Mullaghmore in County Mayo. The full force of the Atlantic Ocean rolls in unimpeded for 1000s of miles before hitting the West Coast of Ireland giving rise to several surfing hot spots and magnificent beaches obviously, along the length of the Wild Atlantic Way.

Surfing the Waves

In Rossnowlagh, County Donegal, the sound of the surf is constant and drowns out everything else. Easkey in Sligo is wild and out of the way and surrounded by cliffs so only experts really surf there. Incidentally, Ireland’s leading female surfer is named after this spot where she learned to surf as a child. While Strandhill is much more laid back and leisurely with a definitive Bondi beach vibe on a hot sunny day. Lahinch too, in County Clare is another great, safe place to learn with dozens of surf shops and schools lined up along the promenade, it’s more West Coast California than Ireland. Ballybunion and Brandon Bay in Kerry are popular too while Coomeenole is an experienced surfers dream, ditto Inch beach with the longest breaks in Europe.

Get Surfing!

With the advent of accurate swell forecasting, wind and tide conditions, surfing is no longer a chance opportunity with the guys lucky enough to live on the coast catching all the great breaks, literally. You can learn ‘to surf in a day’ or at least try and stay on the board most places but you might want a few more lessons if you are to tackle Ailies, the fabled 80’ wave which regularly sweeps into under the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare. Surf’s up so time to get suited and booted and on a board.

Book a B&B Now 

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 by Claire Regan | with 0 comments

Tags: Surfing, Wild Atlantic Way