With the sun in the sky and the swell off the shore, there’s no better time to venture to the Emerald Isle and check out the surf with a plethora of hotspots on the bracing Atlantic coast. The Wild Atlantic Way is described as the “new Yellow Brick Road” for surfers willing to embrace the rugged coastline in lieu of swaying palms and coral reefs. It’s the world’s longest fully coastal trail at 2,500km, hugging Ireland’s wave-lashed western seaboard from Malin Head at the tip of the north western-most county of Donegal, down to the southern town of Kinsale in County Cork.
Fantastic beaches, cool communities and iconic waves confirm the Irish coast’s growing global reputation as a surf paradise. So hitch up your board and lather on the sun block (fingers crossed) for Bundoran in Donegal, Tourism Ireland’s top pick for surfing this summer. Bundoran has a range of reef and beach options for all levels but veteran surfers will have plenty to keep them busy. Other top destinations include Mullaghmore and Easky in Sligo, Lahinch and Spanish Point in Clare and Castlegregory and the utterly quaint Ballybunion in Kerry.
The Top 5 Surf Spots on the Island of Ireland:
1. Donegal – Bundoran
2. Sligo – Mullaghmore or Easky
3. Clare – Lahinch and Spanish Point
4. Kerry - Castlegregory and Ballybunion
5. Northern Ireland – Portrush
