Great news for Irish surfing as Mullaghmore Head in Sligo has been named as one of the best surfing spots in the world by Lonely Planet.
It’s very easy to see why the travel bible opted for the Yeats County beach when you check out this incredible footage of Brazilian surfer Danila Couto riding a huge wave there earlier this year:
We just hope he was wearing his arm-bands out there.
Lonely Planet, in a new book of top tens for adventurers, listed the West coast haven as one of the Best Spots to Catch a Big Wave, describing it as a roaring reef break where storm patterns kick up Atlantic swells in late winter and early spring which surfers are “lucky to ride and grateful to survive. High winds, choppy surfaces and blinding rain can present obstacles, but the heavy, long tubes make up for conditions,” the book said.
The guide book also advised thrill seekers that climbing Croagh Patrick is an ultimate pilgrimage and that the Castle Leslie estate is a top ten for horse riding ethusiasts. Yeeeeehaaa!
In the coast to coast section of the book, travel writers suggest using the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge in Antrim as a starting point for an Irish walking trip, while a journey by foot across the country covers 387 miles and should take around 24 days to complete. Although it may take slightly longer if you’re going to be lugging your surf board around too.
As ever though, the travel book said that the 10,000 pubs in Ireland will be a welcome shelter while walkers can expect to endure “exposure to wild weather and even wilder hospitality”.
And sure when all the surfing’s done and dusted you can pop into your nearest welcoming pub with a roaring fire and hot whiskey to keep you company.
Surf’s (and pints) up. Perfect.
Story via Press Association.
Main Image: Surfing at Mullaghmore Head by Gary McCall. For more information check out his Facebook page here or website here.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
