Surf’s up... as Joe takes to waves 60 years on
On a historic day Ireland’s first ever surfer, Joe Roddy, will ride the waves again to mark the 60th anniversary of his first surf off the Irish coast.
Now in his late 70s — he refuses to give his real age as it will “cramp my ballroom dancing social scene” — the maverick great-grandfather, who was born in the Roches Point lighthouse, will enter the Irish surfers’ hall of fame on Sunday after a repeat of his first effort on a replica of the board he first used.
In June 1949, two decades before Irish surfing really took off, a teenage Joe paddled a mile out from the Dundalk coast on top of a four-metre surfboard made from discarded tea chests and wood.
“I haven’t been up on a board in maybe 57 years, so it will be interesting,” said the great-grandfather and joint owner of the Skellig Boat Trips.
“I’m in what you might call my twilight years now but I’m looking forward to being back on the board again.
“I’ve canoed the Shannon end-to-end and done other things in my life, but you could say surfing is in my genes.
“I’ve been told there are 50,000 surfers in Ireland now, it’s how an adventure begins,” he said.
Joe’s surfing attempt will see him inducted into the Irish surfing hall of fame at Tramore’s T-Bay Surf and Eco Centre this weekend.
Eric Randall — who is organising Sunday’s event alongside a series of previous Ireland surfing champions, including Alan Duke, Eamon Mathews, Hugh O’Brien-Moran, and David Smythe — added that the weekend gesture shows that enthusiasm and not age is what matters.
“A hall of fame induction into the Irish surfing legends takes place annually, but this one is even bigger because this man started surfing in Ireland 60 years ago.
“The board he will be using is a replica of the older ones and will be very different from the ones today, like comparing a horse and cart with a Ferrari, so it will be a great feat to see.
“He’s a real character, he used to compete in international spear-fishing competitions and still goes up to Limerick every weekend for ballroom dancing, so it is testament to him that Sunday’s event is taking place,” he added.
Further information is available from the Irish Surfing Association on www.isasurf.ie or the T-Bay Surf and Eco Centre on 051-391297.
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