Surf’s up for Fáilte Ireland as its Wild Atlantic Way rides the crest of a wave

The Wild Atlantic Way is making waves in more ways than one.

Fáilte Ireland’s signature project to rejuvenate tourism, Ireland’s first long-distance touring route, which stretches along the Atlantic coast from Donegal to West Cork, is home to many beaches as wild as the Way itself.

Surfers are the latest cohort of tourists to have discovered it. According to specialist holiday website Surfholidays.com, some of the best waves on the planet crash on beaches scattered along the Wild Atlantic Way.

A more leisurely surfing expedition on Garretstown Beach, West Cork, during the warm spell that gripped the country last April. 

“Ireland has long been called the ‘Cold Water Indonesia’ among the surfing community but has more recently attracted mainstream media attention for its famous waves off the Cliffs of Moher, Mullaghmore, and other big wave surfing spots,” says Allan Mulrooney of Surfholidays.com, which embarked on a mission recently along the 2,500km of Irish coastline to discover the top five surf towns to visit. The towns were rated on surf breaks, amenities, nightlife, family-friendly options, surf schools in the area, and the “vibe” of the surf community.

The No 1 spot is Strandhill in Co Sligo, described as the perfect spot for surfing.

The others are Lahinch, Co Clare; Bundoran, Co Donegal; Portrush, Co Antrim; and Ballybunion, Co Kerry.

See www.surfholidays.com