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Surfing in Ireland

Ireland has become increasingly popular as a surfing destination, due to its exposed location on the turbulent Atlantic seaboard.[1]

The island has 3,172 kilometers of coastline, and the southern and western shores are exposed for waves originating in the North Atlantic.[2] Although Ireland is located at a high latitude, the warm ocean currents of the North Atlantic drift ensures mild water temperatures throughout the year, with a minimum of 10 °C (50 °F) in winter and a maximum of 21 °C (70 °F) in summer.[3]

The numerous beaches, reefs, headlands and coves along the west coast of Ireland serve as popular surf spots. Ireland has played host to international events since the 1960s, and is home to many surf shops, schools and clubs.[3]

History

Surfing has been documented in Ireland as early as 1949, however it wasn't until 1964 that the "Bray Island Surf Club" was founded. Ireland was first represented at the World Surfing Championship in 1966 by Kevin Cavey, which in turn inspired the first Irish National Surfing Championships, held in Tramore, County Waterford in 1967. The first Irish Inter County Surfing Championships was held in 1968, followed by a full Irish team entry in the inaugural European Surfing Championships of 1969.

The growing interest in competition surfing mirrored a general interest in surfing across the island, with the number of participants and clubs growing rapidly throughout the late 60s; by 1970, there were an estimated 400 surfers in the country. This led to the foundation of the Irish Surfing Association in that year.[4][5]

Governing body

Irish Surfing, also known as the Irish Surfing Association, is a voluntary organisation that governs the sport of surfing on the island of Ireland. It participates in club development, instructor training and surf school regulation, and promoting surfing safety and the protection of the environment, as well as overseeing competitive surfing in Ireland.[6]

Clubs

There are 16 surf clubs accredited by the Irish Surfing Association.[7]

There are also many unaccredited surf clubs throughout the country.

Competitions

The two most important annual events in the Irish surfing calendar are the Irish National Surfing Championships, held in Bundoran, County Donegal,[8] and the Irish Inter County Surfing Championships, held in Rossnowlagh, County Donegal.[9]

Ireland has frequently hosted international competitions, including the Smirnoff International (Easky, 1979),[4] the European Surfing Championships (Lahinch, 1972; Rossnowlagh, 1985; Bundoran, 1997 & 2011)[10] and the Billabong Monster Tow In Surf Session (Mullaghmore 2011, 2012/13).[11]

Culture

Although surfing is not universally associated with Ireland, there is a growing surfing subculture to accommodate the increased interest in the sport. There have been a number of surfing documentaries filmed on the island[12][13][14] (including the acclaimed 2008 documentary, Waveriders), as well as annual surf music festivals[15][16] and a surf film festival.[17]

Demographics

Ireland has an estimated 20,000 resident surfers. In addition, the country is an increasingly popular destination for surfing tourists.[18]

Locations

Big wave surfing

Ireland's location on the edge of the North Atlantic makes it a good location for accessing large waves. The record for the largest measured wave, at 19 m (62 ft) tall, is held by a buoy off the north-west coast of the country,[22] and satellite imagery has shown a tendency for the generation of waves in excess of 9 m (30 ft) tall in the area.[23]

Ireland's most iconic big wave, known as "Ailleens" after the nearby Aill na Searrach cliffs, is located off the Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, and is a popular location for tow-in surfing. Although championed by many as a "perfect wave", with a potential height of 12 m (39 ft), Ailleens is not an everyday occurrence, as it requires stormy conditions and strong east winds offshore.[24][25]

Mullaghmore Head's 9 m (30 ft) waves, in County Sligo, have served as the platform for the Billabong Monster Tow In Surf Session since 2011.[26] A nearby wave, known as "Prowlers", has been surfed at an estimated height of 15 m (50 ft).[27]

See also

References

  1. ^ Ltd, Wannasurf.com. "Ireland - WannaSurf, surf spots atlas, surfing photos, maps, GPS location". www.wannasurf.com. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  2. ^ "The best surf spots in Ireland". SurferToday. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Surfing in Ireland Irish culture and customs - World Cultures European". www.irishcultureandcustoms.com. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Our History". www.irishsurfing.ie. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  5. ^ Cavey, Kevin. "Surf History". kevincavey.com. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  6. ^ "Who We Are". www.irishsurfing.ie. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  7. ^ "IrishSurfing - Sign Up". Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  8. ^ "Irish National Surfing Championships 2016 - Discover Bundoran - Tourist Information from Ireland's Capital of Fun!". discoverbundoran.com. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  9. ^ "47TH Annual Intercounties". www.irishsurfing.ie. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  10. ^ "Rossnowlagh Intercounties & Irish Surfing Association 50th Anniversary Celebration". Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  11. ^ "Tow-in Surf Session Ireland | Surf Camps Europe". Surfcampseurope.com. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  12. ^ "Irish Film Institute -New Documentary Between Land and Sea Gets Stunning Trailer". ifi.ie. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  13. ^ "Monster Waves of Europe- Ireland - Surf Around Ireland Surf Around Ireland". www.surfaroundireland.com. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  14. ^ "The Crest - A New Crowdfunded Irish Surf Movie - Surf Around Ireland Surf Around Ireland". www.surfaroundireland.com. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  15. ^ "Sea Sessions 2017". seasessions.com. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  16. ^ "Surf & Sea Festival Tramore". www.surfandseafestival.com. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  17. ^ "Shoreshots". 54.2766° N, 8.4761° W. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  18. ^ "Surfing tourism on crest of a wave after monster swell". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  19. ^ Ltd, Wannasurf.com. "Ireland - WannaSurf, surf spots atlas, surfing photos, maps, GPS location". www.wannasurf.com. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  20. ^ "Surf Forecast & Surf Reports for IRELAND". www.surf-forecast.com. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  21. ^ "Surfspots.ie". surfspots.ie. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  22. ^ "'World's Biggest Wave' Recorded Off Ireland". afloat.ie. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  23. ^ "New Big Wave Hotspot Discovered Off Irish Coast". afloat.ie. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  24. ^ Fáilte Ireland. "Biggest Waves in the World | Wild Atlantic Way". www.wildatlanticway.com. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  25. ^ "Aileen's – Ireland's Perfect Wave #irlnd". Ireland.com. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  26. ^ Fáilte Ireland. "Mullaghmore Surf | Surfing on the Wild Atlantic Way". www.wildatlanticway.com. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  27. ^ Cooney, Neil (November 2010). "The Impact of Surfing on the Local Economy of the Lahinch Area, Co. Clare, Ireland" (PDF). www.surfaroundireland.com. p. 5.

External links