Surfing in Dublin

seanieclarke · 23-10-2006 8:57pm #1

are there any decent places in Dublin to surf and is there anywhere to get lessons?

Cheers

Steven · 23-10-2006 9:13pm

Wrong forum?

seanieclarke · 23-10-2006 9:38pm

Any good places to surf in Dublin or anywhere to get lessons?

Cheers

John · 25-10-2006 4:54pm

Moved to surfing. Honestly, Alt/Indie?

Endurance Man · 25-10-2006 5:26pm

If you could get 10 high speed ferries to all speed along the shore line at once you might get a wave

.

dub_gal · 28-10-2006 8:06pm

not really in dublin....been lookin for something myself for while but you have to go elsewhere. log onto : http://www.isasurf.ie/ for list of approved surf schools rounf the country...
but if you want something local and are willing to compromise there's always kitesurfing....heres a list of instructors ::: Enjoy!:)

http://www.kitesurf.ie/hangtime/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=34

Exar Khun · 21-11-2006 1:06pm

Damn straight there is, only under freak conditions. Check this outhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm8bv_xKfXs

conman78 · 28-11-2006 7:14pm

East Coast can be pretty good with winds over 30 mph from Southerly direction. Knowing where to look is the main thing, http://www.geocities.com/Pipeline/1597/surfspots.html

Drive around any bit of coast this week and you'll have waves everywhere up the east coast to from Courtown to Donabate and Balbriggan. Huge southerly's. Just drive along and look for parked cars with board racks etc parked in strange places!

Gone West · 26-12-2006 12:19am

Ok, heres a few surf spots close to Dublin. Waves aren't going to be great, but everything I will mention here is definetly surfable.

Killiney Beach. Probably one of the best on the east coast. Needs a low/mid tide and easterlys. South swell is needed, as always for dublin, etc(!)

Magheramore, just south of wicklow. Best spot near Dublin to surf. A nice bit better than Killiney. Think the carpark is closed now, but you can still park on the side of the road. If theres a southerly swell and easterly winds, go here.

Dollymount strand: (just for the laugh) This beach can catch some waves, helped along by the ferries. Winter is best, and the best times are 7.30AM and 4.30PM. More popular with kitesurfers and windsurfers, but if youre desperate?!

Tyrella beach, up near newry can catch some waves too...
If theres a storm in the Irish sea.

Bray: right in front of the bandstand. Only works in Northerly swells.
Dirty dirty water, much like the entire east coast.

Even Balbriggan catches some swell from time to time. Can't think of the conditions necessary offhand, though.

If i remember more, I'll put them in here.

Anyways, I don't know why people bother surfing these waves, unless they live right beside the beaches or something.
You're much better to head off into the west.
Donegal, Sligo, Clare, Kerry (in that order IMO) are all excellent, and all have a good few really good waves.
The west will almost always have some sort of surfable wave. As opposed to the irish sea.

joejoem · 26-12-2006 12:55pm

FuzzyLogic wrote:

Killiney Beach. Probably one of the best on the east coast. Needs a low/mid tide and easterlys. South swell is needed, as always for dublin, etc(!)

worth mentioning that you have to do the mongo dance from the car to the water because it is one of the stoniest beaches in Ireland.....

Gone West · 26-12-2006 2:17pm

Booties

lightening · 29-12-2006 12:16pm

There is waves to be caught on Dollymount today!

lightening · 04-01-2007 11:43am

Well, here is Dollymount this morning!

Not exactly LA, but with my new barge

I may be able to catch some relaxing waves at the weekend.

g-punkteffekt · 04-01-2007 6:53pm

holy jesus - waves like that in dollymount?? Do you reckon there'll be any there at the weekend? that's unbelievable, I never thought it got anything there, I live quite close to it

lightening · 05-01-2007 10:45am

Just checked this morning, they are all gone! I will keep you posted during the weekend.

Gone West · 05-01-2007 12:45pm

ferry wake?

lightening · 05-01-2007 4:04pm

FuzzyLogic wrote:

ferry wake?

No, it was constant, a bit bigger towards the wooden bridge. The days of big ferry wakes are gone. In the eightys I was one of the fellas who lined up every night in the summer. (in a canoe, couldn't surf a board then) The wash used to be really big, great fun. Unfortunately the wash was eroding the South Wall and the boats were told to slow down.

no more fun.

g-punkteffekt · 11-01-2007 8:31am

so will this hellish weather produce any surf in dublin over the next couple of days? anyone?

lightening · 11-01-2007 11:46am

I got some runs on Portmarnock beach on Sunday, nothing beautifull, but good practice. On my way home there was lovely waves on Dollymount, the tide was in. On Tuesday at lunch time there was really nice waves on Dollymount (again full tide) This morning things were looking like this (The tide is only half way in)

A windy and messy!

I reckon on Saturday morning at around nine (high tide is around 8.30) there should be good waves.

Enygma · 11-01-2007 1:56pm

This winter must surely be going down as one of the best seasons on the East coast in a long time. I've made the trip once already and may be tempted again

lightening · 11-01-2007 2:22pm

Enygma wrote:

I've made the trip once already and may be tempted again

In fairness, if its good on the East coast, it must be BRILLIANT on the West coast... Where did you make the trip from?

Enygma · 11-01-2007 2:35pm

Actually if it's good on the East Coast it's most likely crap everywhere else. You need lots of Westerly wind and swell to get the East to light up so that means it's just big huge messy onshore crap everywhere else. Although there are a few spots on the South coast that might be ok

Made the trip up from Cork, first time surfing the Irish Sea, one of the most radioactive bodies of water on the planet. Maybe that's why the vibes are so good in the water

lightening · 11-01-2007 2:38pm

Well... your always welcome! I just hope you aren't dissapointed, its very hit and miss. One of the best times I have ever had in 06 was in Inchadonny, brilliant beginner friendly surf, had a ball...

Enygma · 11-01-2007 2:55pm

To be honest it was only ok the day we were there but a lot better than our expectations. The day after we left was meant to be absolutely pumping!

Inchydoney is great alright, such a fun wave. Always good vibes down there too.

g-punkteffekt · 11-01-2007 4:16pm

they look a bit too small in that to surf really no? Anyway - I'm going to check it out saturday morning, hopefully it's good at full tide. thanks for the info, I live real close to dollymount.

lightening · 11-01-2007 4:35pm

g-punkteffekt wrote:

they look a bit too small in that to surf really no? Anyway - I'm going to check it out saturday morning, hopefully it's good at full tide. thanks for the info, I live real close to dollymount.

Yeah, its not exactly jaws, they get bigger the closer you get to them though! Don't be to disapointed if there is nothing there on Saturday morning PLEASE!!! It was just an amature guesswork.

g-punkteffekt · 11-01-2007 8:17pm

wow so saturday morning in dollymount is going to be GOING OFF!!11! Best surf ever can't w8!!!11!!

lightening · 12-01-2007 10:40am

Ah jaysus... comon!!!

I was there this morning, not really that good, yet the tide was out. I hope its ok tomorrow, where did you catch good waves in Dublin before?

Moonbeam · 12-01-2007 1:47pm

Enygma - Try Garrettstown, the waves were amazing there over christmas.

Surfing on the east coast would usually suck but due to the highwinds recently,there were even some nice waves in Balbriggan nothing too exciting but nice to have it so near!

g-punkteffekt · 12-01-2007 3:40pm

I've never actually surfed on the east coast, I think it's a waste of time but I've never seen any waves here so I can't really say from experience. I wouldn't bother unless they were at least Streedagh quality and I doubt that happens here very often.

Enygma · 12-01-2007 4:58pm

Once in a blue moon from what I've heard, but I'd take it if this was on offer:
http://www.dotcobbe.com/surfin/longboardirl/gallery/Ireland-Photos/abt

g-punkteffekt · 13-01-2007 12:11pm

went to dollymount today, nothing going on there. I really need to get out west. I wonder if there are any easterlies (sp??) due? Nothing but onshore mayhem in sligo and donegal lately...

Gone West · 13-01-2007 1:48pm

West of Ireland: The winds arent exactly onshore. Places with beaches facing behind the wind will work.
The likes of Mullaghmore will have good surf today, for example.
Streedagh is working too.

Best surf in the next week will probably be Tuesday on any exposed western beach.

g-punkteffekt · 13-01-2007 2:48pm

I went to achill a couple of months ago and Keel strand was completely onshore, but we found a beach on the north of the island that was the complete opposite, and had the beach to ourselves all day. What I wouldn't give for a bit of that now...

book smarts · 15-01-2007 6:10am

Just back from surfing a 90ft monster off Dalkey. Had to paddle in as my ski and driver got swallowed up and destroyed. After surfing like a God, I wiped out right in the pocket, but survived.
Man, I'm telling ya it's like a washing machine in there- you are getting rag-dolled big-time. Luckily I was able to swim the 4 miles back to shore AGAINST the rip. Went straight back out, through the mine-field, and busted up a few great whites on the way back. Stoked!

lightening · 15-01-2007 11:07am

book smarts wrote:

Just back from surfing a 90ft monster off Dalkey. Had to paddle in as my ski and driver got swallowed up and destroyed. After surfing like a God, I wiped out right in the pocket, but survived.
Man, I'm telling ya it's like a washing machine in there- you are getting rag-dolled big-time. Luckily I was able to swim the 4 miles back to shore AGAINST the rip. Went straight back out, through the mine-field, and busted up a few great whites on the way back. Stoked!

Really?

Gone West · 15-01-2007 1:17pm

lightening wrote:

Really?

um, no.

lightening · 15-01-2007 1:28pm

oh.

sounded really impressive.

puremagic diarm · 15-01-2007 11:39pm

the legendry dolly wave!

i worked on the beach all last summer as a kitesurf instructure.. and there is defo some potential for surfing on dolly.
at 4.30 every day the norfolk line comes in with a half tide and an off shore wind this wave can be up too 1.5m......
towards the end of the summer i found that its bigger when it flys in then jams on the brakes it crops a hell of a wave around the light house at the wodden bridge end...

ive been in contact with the capton and hes realy cool.. he agreed to jam on the brakes when the wind blows any way weaterly..

happy surfing
diarmuid

lightening · 16-01-2007 2:29pm

ah... diarmuid, you sound like a right beach bum! (no offence intended...) Does this happen at the weekend by any chance?

Any of you guys this person, I have a high res image for you if so....

Actually if any of you want good action shots pm me....

puremagic diarm · 16-01-2007 7:07pm

its not me but i no who he is.. its oisin from swords hes irish no 1 and a surf dock rider. email them im sure they would be pleased!

no ofence taken on the beach bum thing im well used to it!

lightening · 17-01-2007 2:04pm

Here is one of his mates, do you have their email addresses? I reckon I could get great shots if I got in to my wetsuit and waded out a bit. I didnt realise you guys went offshore so far, these guys were miles out.

cue · 20-01-2007 1:44pm

Anyone know what the conditions are like along the east coast this weekend? Is it worth packing my gear and going for a surfari?

Gone West · 21-01-2007 12:52am

cue wrote:

Anyone know what the conditions are like along the east coast this weekend? Is it worth packing my gear and going for a surfari?

Nope

lightening · 22-01-2007 10:59am

This was Dollymount on Sunday afternoon. (crappy phone pic) The waves were about two foot high. I was in Strandhill on Saturday, it was messy and cold.

spockety · 26-01-2007 3:49pm

These are two pics I took in Donabate (North Dublin) last summer.. I couldn't believe my eyes..

Loaded up the car the next day to head down but there was nothing doing.

When I took these shots there were about 3 or 4 car loads of surfers on the beach who look like they had just finished up.

g-punkteffekt · 30-01-2007 9:40am

Man the surfing forum is always so quiet... Anyway - looks like it's going to be going off in the west over the next while, I'm taking friday off work and heading to Sligo after work on Thursday. Anyone else going out this weekend? I reckon it'll be pretty cold but the winds look light so maybe not such a bad wind chill.

cue · 30-01-2007 10:14am

I will be heading down to Sligo on Saturday night. Have not been out since christmas so long overdue.

g-punkteffekt · 30-01-2007 10:23am

what beaches do you use? I find strandhill to be a bit of a nightmare sometimes, really hard to get out. I'm still a beginner really but I would be fairly fit and getting out is just such a nightmare... I think streedagh is great when it's working

lightening · 30-01-2007 11:16am

Where is that beach? And how do you get to it?

Thanks.

Great photos Spoc, do you remember the weather conditions for the surf in Donabate?

spockety · 30-01-2007 11:21am

Weather was basically a summer evening with hardly any wind whatsoever...

Surfing in Dublin

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