Hibernia: Everybody Go Surfing, Surfing Donegal

By Irish America Staff
August / September 2000

It seems an unlikely choice, but apparently areas of Ireland’s west and northwest coastline are proving highly popular with members of the surfing fraternity these days, who are fairly flocking to ride the waves in such counties as Donegal, Clare, Sligo, and Waterford.

Surf magazines in the U.S. and Australia have named Ireland as one of the best places in the world for the sport, and board enthusiasts from all over are turning up to try out the waves for themselves. According to The Surfer’s Path, Ireland has “surf to rival any country in the world.” Irish surfer Richard Fitzgerald says it’s hardly surprising. “Ireland is quieter than the rest of Europe,” he remarks, ”and the surf is of better quality because we have a rocky coastline which allows for plenty of reef surfing. Surfers here have better choices. They can surf on main beaches where they will have plenty of company or they can go off in small groups and explore good surf spots that may never have been surfed.” ♦

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