Surf the Wild Atlantic Way!
The best counties to catch some waves in Ireland are Donegal, Sligo, Clare and Kerry. The North West Coast is the best area to visit as you are almost always guaranteed waves. These beaches are also home to plenty of other watersports such as sea kayaking, paddle boarding, kite surfing, windsurfing & scuba diving. Every county has a wide choice of outdoor adventure activities so even if there are no waves there’s plenty otherwise to raise your adrenaline.
The surfing season generally runs from September to May when we get the best waves and the clearest waters.
Donegal
Known as the surfing capital of the country. For the brave and seasoned surfers the beaches of Inishowen, Fanad Head, and Dunfanaghy on the Counties Northern shores and Bloddy Foreland and Dungloe on the Western coast are where you want to go. The beautiful beache at Rossnowlagh and Bundoran are perfect for beginners & intermediate level surfers. Bundoran town is the liveliest spot for the surfing community and there are plenty of surf school here.
Sligo
The county of Sligo is great for consistent waves so this is a good bet if you want to surf. Standhill is located just minutes outside the city of Sligo and further South the favourite surfing beaches are Enniscrone and Easkey. The beaches being so close to the city of Sligo, means that you can enjoy the best of both worlds and is very convenient.
Clare
The surfing schools in county clare are busy year round. Lahinch is the most popular spot for beginners and learners as it has such a long sandy beach and is located in the bust seaside town of Lahinch. Less crowded areas for surfing are Doolin; near the Cliffs of Moher and Spanish Point and Doonbeg to the south of the county. Extreme enthusiasts actually surf at the bottom of the Cliffs of Moher. Surfers travel out from Doolin on jetski and can catch waves that are over 35ft high! It is a spectacular sight if you are lucky enough to see them.County
Kerry
The most popular spots for surfing in “The Kingdom” are Banna Beach in North Kerry and Inch Beach near Dingle. There are surf schools on both beaches during the summer months. Inch beach is famous as the location for the classic film “Ryan’s Daughter”. Beginners will find the beach at Inch perfect for surfing whilst the more experienced can try the reef further out.
South & South East Coast
Whilst surfing is very popular on the South and South East of the country, the waves are not as consistent as the Western shores. Hotspots amongst the locals include Barley Cove or Garretstown in West Cork, and Tramore in county Waterford.
If you have a day of surfing planned and there are no waves, there are plenty of other water based activities to keep you busy. Try paddle boarding, sea kayaking, scuba diving, snorkelling or whale & dolphin watching.
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Would you prefer to golf more than surf on your trip to Ireland? Check out Tourism Ireland Golf for all that you need to know!
