Note: Please fill in your email address manually instead of copy/pasting it. Ireland is full of unlikely hazards and pitfalls, just waiting to waylay the unsuspecting surfer. We’re not that windswept and interesting. Quickly access the spots you care about most. In 1600, a mapmaker by the name of Barthelet actually lost his head trying to survey the West Coast. THE REMNANTS of a hurricane led to record-breaking enormous waves hitting off the coast of Ireland earlier this week. Mapping Ireland has never been an easy task. From Dublin's buzzing streets to Derry~Londonderry’s ancient walls, Ireland's cities are a joy. Legend says the people living there were rescued using ships’ ropes when high seas separated the stack from the mainland in 1393. One local surfer explained: “Most people just didn’t think it would benefit the local kids, really. Ireland has played host to international events since the 1960s, and is home to many surf shops, schools and clubs. Privacy Policy. Beginners and seasoned surfers alike can hit the beach and enjoy the waves and stunning scenery that the shoreline of Mayo has to offer. It comes down to respect, really — the more you understand about a particular place, the more you’ll respect it. Yet all along the west coast of Ireland, the waves are pumping and luring thrill-seekers from around the world for big-wave surfing in the cold waters. The Surf Club of Ireland was founded in ’66, where Cavey represented Ireland in the World Champs that year in California; Cavey went on the following year to win the first Irish National Championships. The reason is partly philosophical and partly practical: surf spots are sacred places, and deserve more than just a sentence and directions. Alcoholism. September, October and November are generally considered the best months to plan an Irish surfari for a few reasons: the North Atlantic starts kicking out low pressure systems with some regularity, the weather can still be somewhat warm (though rain is likely), and many tourists have gone home, leaving accommodation plentiful and cheap(er). Unfortunately there was a problem signing you up for E-Zine, please click the button below to try again or refresh the page. Look out for our newsletter in your inbox. Coastal & inland web cams. The tail-end of Hurricane Epsilon caused massive swells off the west coast of Ireland for around 24 hours on Wednesday, and while most would remain in their homes to wait out the storm, one daredevil surfer took to the waves. They’re not about to give up, either. There are airports throughout the Island with international arrivals. They’re the closest thing to shrines we’ve got, and are worthy of a little examination, if only to give travelers a sense that, British Customs officer Ian Hill was the first to take to the chilly green Irish waters, first in 1963 at Castlerock and then the following summer at Tullan Strand and Bundoran. 8 # 8 (North Coast). California, Oregon and Washington all have coastlines on the Pacific. We have reviews of the best places to see in Western Ireland⦠We have a number of our own web surf cameras but we have also partnered with similar service providers. This breakmap is not — nor is it intended to be — a comprehensive surf guide for every surf spot in Ireland. California is the home of surfing in the US. Hypothermia. Spend an afternoon with Denis Quinn of Wild Atlantic Cultural Tours foraging for food along the shores of Killala Bay in County Mayo – then feast on what you’ve found. Party by the sea at this unique festival in Bundoran, Ireland's unofficial surf capital. Ireland wave (swell) map for surfers, windsurfers and sailors showing open ocean wave size, wave period and wave energy. This is the home of big wave surfing in Ireland, and surfers come from all over the world to test their skills against epic waves. Urchins. Former Irish Surf Champion John McCarthy and his crew of surf-dude instructors invite you and your friends to come and experience the thrill and excitement of surfing at Irelandâs best known Surf School. Off the west coast of Ireland, some of the Emerald Isleâs best surfers slide into frigid Atlantic waters in search of epic waves. For more information on travel, accommodation and attractions have a look at our brochures and maps. Gaining weight. Mayo. Surfers from around the world choose Surfline for daily forecasts and timely news. The Irish Surfing Association is headquartered in Easkey, and they can provide some good local info. From the big swells of the north right down to Aileenâs Wave and the gentle swells of Cork, the west ⦠Can you check it and try again? The water is cold, dude. By night, just soak up the carnival atmosphere. Portrush West Strand. But there's more to Mullaghmore. Find expert advice on the best spots for families, surfing and walking. They’re the closest thing to shrines we’ve got, and are worthy of a little examination, if only to give travelers a sense that they’re not the first ones there. But when the Peak’s on, mate…we’re out there.” In other words, despite an ongoing series of magazine articles on Europe’s “empty, coldwater Indo”, know that it’s not actually … that … empty. Residents of the UK and Ireland have been warned to expect stormy weather conditions over the coming days as the tail end of Hurricane Epsilon passes over the islands. There are so many ways to enjoy our beautiful waterways. Art and nature work in perfect harmony along Tír Sáile, North Mayo's fascinating sculpture trail where you can discover the culture and the soul of this remote region. Ireland is full of unlikely hazards and pitfalls, just waiting to waylay the unsuspecting surfer. We fared slightly better, but definitely left with a respect for the Island’s rugged beauty — and hard-won privacy. Hmm, don't know that email. Perfect Wave, County Waterford, SE. For more information on how we handle your personal data please read our. Known as Irelandâs surf capital, this small town comes to life every weekend with surfers from all over the world flocking to the area to experience some of those wild Atlantic waves. Water is still pretty cold, too. In summertime, the Peak can see as many as 50 people in an area about the size of your kitchen, and the hierarchy is pretty well-established, with traveling surfers being close to the bottom with 8-year-old local bodyboarders. This breakmap is not — nor is it intended to be — a comprehensive surf guide for every surf spot in Ireland. His map of Ireland’s West Coast ended up looking almost nothing like the real thing and he was run out of the country. And yes, Guinness will make you fat, especially if mixed with enough greasy food and a prolonged no-surf spell. Water temps vary from the mid-50s to the low-60s and one could reasonably expect at least one solid double overhead swell during a two-week stay. Plus, it’s really tidal.”. The West Coast of Ireland is an adventure wonder land, experience: Caving, Coasteering, Horse Riding, Mountain Biking, Surfing, Rock Climbing, Grid Reference: C849400. One of the most surfed beaches in Northern Ireland, especially for beginners but can get a little busy at weekends in summer. There’s a cultural richness along the Surf Coast too, from the Neolithic Céide Fields to a lively festival scene and, of course, the legacy of poet WB Yeats, who immortalised the landscapes of his childhood in some of his best known works – including the Lake Isle of Inishfree. Alcoholism. History. John started Lahinch Surf School out of a desire to surf and live on the west coast and to share the thrill and âSTOKEâ of surfing. Back in 1590, Francis Jobson attempted to map the rugged West Coast, but the locals didn’t really want its secrets surveyed (he was a Brit, after all), so they kept feeding the poor sod inaccurate information. There are boat trips to the 6th century monastic ruins on Inishmurray Island; Classiebawn Castle dominating the surrounding landscape with its Gothic splendour; and nearby Ben Bulben, the flat-topped mountain famed in Irish mythology and the poetry of WB Yeats. Email: Irish Surfing Association. Gaining weight. The jagged stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way, leading from Donegal Town through Sligo to far-flung Erris in Mayo, is renowned for its surf and attracts some of the world's top waveriders. By day, you can brave the Atlantic waves. ONIT Surf Beach & Surf Web Cameras in Ireland are a great way to see exactly what is happening at the beach. Apart from the Peak and a few other well-known waves, though, you can still find some slices of uncrowded paradise — especially if you can stay on top of the ever-changing wind, weather, swell and tidal range. British Customs officer Ian Hill was the first to take to the chilly green Irish waters, first in 1963 at Castlerock and then the following summer at Tullan Strand and Bundoran. Richie Fitzgerald, Bundoran’s most well-known surfer and owner of Surf World wants to make one thing perfectly clear: “This isn’t some undiscovered paradise with leprechauns and perfect, empty waves around every corner. As a surfer on ⦠Pinching yourself is an inevitability when you first set eyes on Tiree, the most westerly island ⦠(It could also be pumping — or stormy! Vacation ideas, news, offers… sign up for our newsletter and we’ll keep you in touch with Ireland. The sheer amount of coastline means that there are many different surf breaks, points, reefs, big waves spots - anything you like really. Please be sure to click on their Ads just under the live feeds from time to time and check out what they have on offer. East Coast Surf Club is a website for for beginner and advanced surfers based in Dublin, Wicklow, Meath, Kildare, Wexford, Ireland, who loves the environment and enjoy genuine good fun. Nestled in the North West of the island in Co. Donegal, Bundoran is the most famous surfing spot in Ireland and on the bucket list of even the most seasoned surfers. Sure, it’s sunny and nice, but it can go fairly flat for weeks on end. This excellent reef break in County Sligo, along Irelandâs Wild Atlantic Way, ⦠If you’ve ever wondered, though, whether or not Europe could be surfing’s next superpower, come check out a learn-to-surf camp at Tullan Strand in August: 150 kids a day, smiles all around. Urchins. It’s even more unpredictable than normal (which is saying a lot), but it’s not as cold as winter. About Ireland Surf Travel Mapping Ireland has never been an easy task. Found 59 webcams in Ireland country (Europe). Downpatrick Head in County Mayo is a spectacular headland of great beauty 38 metres (125 feet) above the sea. Land and sea come together to create something truly special at Mullaghmore Head. Right around the same time in the south of Ireland, Kevin Cavey read a Reader’s Digest story about surfing and attempted to manufacture his own surfboard, to little success; he eventually created a weird kneeboard thing and finally ordered a balsa kit from England. Choosing just one surf spot to list in Kerry seems wrong. County Mayo, with its intricate shorelines jutting into the North Atlantic Ocean along the west coast of Ireland, provides the surfing enthusiast with ample opportunity to catch a wave. These talented and ⦠Book your tickets online for the top things to do in Western Ireland, Ireland on Tripadvisor: See 109,798 traveler reviews and photos of Western Ireland tourist attractions. This is where most of the surf schools do their beginner surf lessons. Good luck. The ruins of a church, stone cross and holy well mark the site of an earlier church founded by Saint Patrick. The best time to surf Ireland is during the period from September to May each year when the Atlantic Ocean provides plenty of powerful cold water swells. Explore incredible sights from Belfast to Derry~Londonderry along this legendary coastline. Welcome to one of the world's best roadtrips: the Causeway Coastal Route. ⦠My wife Idoline and I picked up a 24-foot Mercedes-Benz van at Shannon Airport, about two thirds of the way down the west coast, ... nervy subset in the surf world, and Ireland has its share. Then there’s the impressive sea stack known as Dún Briste. Bundoran and Easkey have some sewage outfalls near the breaks that can get pretty nasty, but most of Ireland is damn clean. Most folks base themselves in Bundoran as it has the country’s best and most consistent surf as well as being fairly central to other areas of exploration. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in January. The only real drawback to the Ireland surfing experience is the cold water, but if you are prepared to overlook this little problem you are in for a ⦠This must be every rider’s dream. The club was formed in August 1970 by a very small group of dedicated surfers: Michael Murphy, Sam McCrum, Brian Cusack,Hugh Milne, Des Deeney, John ⦠The West Coast has a huge coastline and a huge number of surf spots. Ireland’s a beautiful destination, surf or no surf — go have a look around. You can customize the wave and wind maps with overlays for wind arrows, pressure and general weather for surfing. Known to surfers as a âcold paradiseâ, thereâs no better place to take to the water than Ireland's surf capital â Bundoran, County Donegal Itâs June and on shore in Bundoran, the sky hangs bruised to purple as if swelling up with the makings of a good nightâs rain. Excited your interest? The roads in Ireland are well-marked but quite narrow, especially if you’re not comfortable with the size of your car, you could easily find yourself off in some ditch somewhere or missing a passenger side mirror. Dine in Sligo, the very heart of Yeats country, in the Brennan family home where you can enjoy the best of Irish food while listening to the poetry of William Butler Yeats. If you’re a visitor from the island of Ireland you may want to visit one of these sites… Otherwise proceed to Ireland.com. Read our guide to the best beaches in West Coast Ireland, as recommended by Telegraph Travel. Discover airlines flying to Ireland from your location. Watch weather web cameras (photo and video) showing live images. Want to know more? The final stretch of western Franceâs coastline, La Côte dâArgent (the Silver Coast) meets the border of Spain just past Saint-Jean-de-Luz and is the most spectacular spot for surfing in France. Sign-up for the latest information on great offers, holiday hot spots and events across Ireland
Most folks arrive in Dublin and make the four-hour drive across quite easily — of course making sure to DRIVE ON THE LEFT. The numerous beaches, reefs, headlands and coves along the west coast of Ireland serve as popular surf spots. No trip to Ireland would be complete without visiting at least one of Irelandâs beautiful islands. Wander through the woods around Glencar Lake and you'll come across this glorious waterfall, made famous by WB Yeats in his poem “The Stolen Child”. The tail end of Hurricane Epsilon has created dramatic surfing conditions off the west coast of Ireland, as massive waves exceeding 18 metres in height surged from the Atlantic. The Irish Surfing Association is headquartered in Easkey, and they can provide some good local info. Ireland has hosted the European National Championships in ’72, ’85 and ’97 and the Masters World Championships in ’01. Ask a question in our Community, they're the people who know Ireland best. And that’s a good thing. June, July and August are when most of the world comes to Ireland, and rightly so: the weather is nice, it doesn’t rain that much, and the water is bearable. You can luck out and get some late season North Atlantic storms and good weather, but chances are you’ll be at the whim of the wind and scrappy swells that come down off Greenland. Easkey, County Sligo. In the water, the only hazards really are some very shallow rock reefs with urchins lurking in the crevices — walk on top of the reef and don’t wipe out and you’ll be just fine. Email: Partner of USATODAY Lifestyle/Action Sports. The most accurate and trusted West Ireland surf reports, forecasts, and coastal weather. These webcams are constantly updated. These are live photos from weather cameras broadcasting 24 hours a day. An incredible video shows a daredevil surfer riding the huge 60ft (18m) hurricane waves on the west coast of Ireland brought on by Hurricane Epsilon. The water is, June, July and August are when most of the world comes to Ireland, and rightly so: the weather is nice, it doesn’t rain, Most folks arrive in Dublin and make the four-hour drive across quite easily — of course making sure to. But that’s only the beginning. Canter along the beautiful unspoilt beaches of County Sligo with the wind in your hair and the sand rushing by beneath you. Oh, and a gun, too — if you’re here in winter, you like big heavy shit. Inch Beach, County Kerry. Problem is, we’re dealing with the Atlantic Ocean in summertime, one of the most fickle beasts in the world. Click on the pictures to go to the source websites, there you will get a bigger image or live video. It's a little-known piece of surfer heaven just a few minutes' ⦠Clare (Difficulty: Intermediate) In May 2006, 44 surfers managed to make a new world record by riding one small wave at⦠8 # 7 (South Coast) and Vol. — the whole time.). Bring the thickest suit you got, booties, a hood and a warm, waterproof set of clothes. Choose from a great range of airlines and destinations to travel to Ireland. Way, leading from Donegal Town through Sligo to far-flung Erris in Mayo, While residents of the UK and Ireland have been warned to expect stormy conditions over the next few days as the remnants of Hurricane Epsilon die out, some surfers made the most of the enormous waves. A n insider's guide to West Coast Ireland, featuring the best hotels, restaurants, bars, shops, attractions and things to do, including how to travel there and ⦠Bundoran was supposed to hold the ’04 World Surfing Games but backed out at the last minute (to a $10,000 fine). Careful. Like most places in the world, springtime tends to be a very pretty, very transitional period — and the surf’s no different. Tiree. Lights, camera, action – start your journey to uncover the cinematic landscapes of Ireland. Welcome to Westcoast Surf Club. 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