The opening of Ireland’s first purpose-built surfing facility has cemented County Sligo as a world-class surfing destination.
The wild Atlantic waves, golden sands and emerald backdrops of the west coast of Ireland have attracted surfers from all over the world for many years. Among the top surfing spots is Strandhill in County Sligo, which is the location for the recently opened National Surf Centre, a state-of-the-art facility overlooking the ocean.
The centre provides high-quality changing, shower and locker facilities with an extensive ground floor space for surf training and demonstrations for local, national and international surfers.
Home to three surf schools, it also includes a bespoke surf and leisure retail experience and will be a standout attraction for surfers visiting the area.
The exterior of the building features stunning artwork by Donegal artist and surfer, Barry Britton, depicting figures from Irish mythology including the legendary Queen Maeve who is seen catching a wave. The building’s standing seams simulate a surfer’s wetsuit draped over the striking precast concrete wall panels. Designed by Arken Construction, the building is now in the running for a number of awards.
County Sligo and the entire Wild Atlantic Way are known for their exceptional surfing culture. In County Sligo, Easkey, Mullaghmore and Strandhill are popular surfing spots offering a range of experiences to suit every ability.
Strandhill has a fun beach break with an easy paddle-out while Mullaghmore is known as the home of big waves. Easkey is famed for its two reef breaks, which attract advanced surfers looking for an adrenaline rush.
North of Sligo in County Donegal, Bundoran has been listed by National Geographic in the top 20 surf towns in the world. It’s the home of The Peak, a reef break that breaks both right and left creating challenging swells that have attracted some of the biggest names in surfing.
And to the south in the waters off the coast of County Clare is Aileen’s Wave. A legend among the international surfing community, Aileen’s Wave is a wall of water that can reach a height of 15 metres. It rises offshore from one of Ireland’s great natural attractions, the Cliffs of Moher.
