Region 05 · 10 spots
Surfing in
Ireland
Ireland has 10 spots in The European Surf Atlas, from Rossnowlagh to Inch Reef. The best months are Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, and the water runs from about 10 °C in winter to 16 °C in summer.
- Best months
- Mar · Apr · Oct · Nov
- Water
- 10° / 16°
- Spots
- 10
- Levels
- 3 beginner1 intermediate4 advanced2 expert
Average of all 10 spots. Single spots can work outside the peak.
The spots
- 044RossnowlaghRossnowlagh, Donegal · Beach
A long, gentle sand strand deep in Donegal Bay, the classic learner and longboard beach of the north-west.
Beginner friendly - 045Bundoran PeakBundoran, Donegal · Reef
Ireland's best known A-frame reef, a fast left and a hollow right breaking right in front of town.
Strong intermediate + - 046MullaghmoreSpectator spotMullaghmore Head, Sligo · Reef
Ireland's premier big-wave reef, a thick, heavy left ridden by tow teams only in big winter storms.
Big-wave tow crews only - 047EaskeyEasky, Sligo · Reef
Two consistent reefs side by side, a long left by the river and a punchy right, clean in S to SW wind.
Intermediate to adv. - 048StrandhillStrandhill, Sligo · Beach
A consistent, high-energy sandbar beach in front of the promenade and home base of Sligo's surf schools.
Learners with a school - 049Crab IslandDoolin, Clare · Reef
Heavy, powerful right over sharp limestone off a small island outside Doolin harbour, a true Irish classic.
Experts only - 050DoolinDoolin, Clare · Reef point
Right-hand point peeling over uneven limestone beside Doolin pier, a quieter, smaller option than Crab Island.
Intermediate to adv. - 051LahinchLahinch, Clare · Beach
Lifeguarded sandy beach break below the town prom, with surf schools and shops, the most reliable wave in Clare.
Beginner to advanced - 052Brandon BayFermoyle / Gowlane, Kerry · Beach
Miles of open sand on the north Dingle coast that come alive in NW to N swell with a southerly wind.
Beginner to intermed. - 053Inch ReefInch, Kerry · Point
Long right-hand point under the cliffs at the north end of Inch Strand, with rides of up to 400 m on a big SW swell.
Intermediate to expert
Swell window, offshore wind, tide, size, hazards, access and a Plan B for every spot are on the spot cards in the atlas.
Getting there
Fly to Dublin, Shannon (Clare), Ireland West Knock (Sligo) or Kerry. Car ferries: Roscoff to Cork, Cherbourg to Rosslare or Dublin, Dunkirk to Rosslare, plus UK routes.
A car is close to essential. Buses link the towns but not the breaks. Bundoran to Lahinch is about 3 to 4 hours, Lahinch to Kerry about 2 to 3.
Bundoran (Donegal), Strandhill and Easkey (Sligo), Lahinch (Clare), Castlegregory and Inch (Kerry). Surf schools in all of these towns.
The European Surf Atlas
All 10 spot cards for Ireland, plus 7 more regions.
The wind table tells you which spot is offshore today, the van and camping rules keep you out of trouble, and every card names a Plan B. 115 pages, €24.90 incl. VAT.