Surfing film to screen on beach for charity

One of Ireland’s top big-wave surfers is hitting a West Cork beach tonight — to catch a movie.

Richie Fitzgerald, who starred in the award-winning documentary, Waverider, after conquering one of the biggest swells ever recorded off Irish shores, will be on Inchydoney beach near Clonakilty for an outdoor fundraising screening of the film.

Money raised by the Movies on the Beach event — which includes a barbecue — will help boost the Clonakilty Flood Relief Fund.

Tickets, €15, are available from the Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa with €10 from each ticket going to the flood fund. The hotel is hosting the event.

Fitzgerald and hotel owner, Des O’Dowd, said Ireland has among the best surf tourism potential in the world.

“It would be great for the country if funding was offered to develop this sector further and help maximise its full potential by supporting and promoting new initiatives to attract surf tourism to Ireland,” Mr O’Dowd said.

“And we hope to develop this ‘movies on the beach concept’ further.”

Donegal-born Fitzgerald represented Ireland at world and European surf championships before deciding to focus on developing his own surf shop, Surfworld.

He also works on a cross-border integration scheme that uses surfing to bring children from north and south of the border together.