Watch: Meet The Pioneers Of Surfing In Ireland | Part 1

Craig Brokensha (Craig)
Swellnet Dispatch
Wednesday, 26 September 2018

Red Bull have put together a great long piece documenting the people who put surfing on the Emerald Isle's map and how they're taking it to the next level.

This is Part 1

Comments

crg Wednesday, 26 Sep 2018 at 02:40 pm new

Fantastic...the Irish just get it. Just loved old mate Barry.

upnorth Wednesday, 26 Sep 2018 at 08:35 pm new

Love it, as true as they come. Short film by Finisterre called North Sea Holes might be of interest.

Watery Wednesday, 26 Sep 2018 at 08:58 pm new

Look up Barry Britton's art. Since the 80s, he has done a poster each year for the Intercounties competition (I have a bunch of them on my walls). Each one mixes Celtic and surf imagery, picking up on a few things the cultures share.

Oh, and Red Bull missed Grant Robinson - true pioneer of Irish surfing (with Barry and his brothers), European surf champ in the masters division in the late 90s, and the legend who took pity on me as I camped in miserable weather at his local back in 1997 (so put me up for a week or two of surfing and partying).

Johan Wohlleben Wednesday, 26 Sep 2018 at 10:44 pm new

Woohooo!! Surfing spirit.

Fozza Thursday, 27 Sep 2018 at 09:23 am new

"Taking it to the next level"? Blah blah..... That's not what I get from this at all - more like a tribute to those, like Fergal, who see through the vacuous, profit driven hype and have the emotional intelligence to place a high value on connecting with their environment.

stunet Thursday, 27 Sep 2018 at 09:33 am new

It can't be both?

After all, it's Fergal himself who talks about being intense, setting the highest standard possible in big waves, achieving all those 'firsts' - in other words, taking it to the next level.

And then of course there's the way he acted on conscience regarding air travel and the vacuous nature of pro surfing.

Why should the two negate each other?

factotum Thursday, 27 Sep 2018 at 11:33 am new

I can concur with Watery above. His art: https://localhands.ie/barry-britton/

Met the fella on an island off Portugal. Surfed with him, had a few jars with him, good craic, and he invited me and my mate to say g'day when we got to Ireland.

A few years later, on our second stint living and surfing there, we finally caught up with him. Great studio. Just across the road from the pub, and the pub is right on the beach. His family pub!

Side-note: funny old town, Rossnowlagh. We were there in the van on the beach one day, dusty...again, when we were awoken by this procession marching on the sand!

https://www.tripsavvy.com/rossnowlagh-orange-order-parade-spectacle-154…

I've gotta say I've never seen a stranger looking bunch of people gathered in the one place. It was like a Deliverance/Hills Have Eyes casting-call. I've got pictures somewhere.

factotum Thursday, 27 Sep 2018 at 11:48 am new

Another side-note: down the road from Rossnawlagh is this!

https://ramblingwombat.wordpress.com/2017/06/08/republican-garden/

They were building it last time I was there.

Also, around the corner from the wave at Mullaghmore, this happened:

https://www.sligoheritage.com/archmbatten.htm

Blowin Thursday, 27 Sep 2018 at 12:00 pm new

There’s other places more worthy of protection.....

Fozza Thursday, 27 Sep 2018 at 12:38 pm new

What's the criteria?

factotum Thursday, 27 Sep 2018 at 03:48 pm new

Blowin, please explain?

memlasurf Friday, 28 Sep 2018 at 08:39 am new

Just been on a motorcycle tour through those areas and I had no inclination whatsoever to want to surf there. Cold, drizzle, windy, bleak and a lot of tourists on the road at this time of year. I admire those guys to want to do it in those really shitty conditions, and low mate is a gem. Great place, people and pubs but I will leave surfing to even Victorias somewhat warmer climes.

juanboogie Sunday, 30 Sep 2018 at 09:41 am new

Love how’s theres a brotherly oceanic love between the surfers and bodyboarders.

LeroytheMasochist Sunday, 30 Sep 2018 at 08:48 pm new

Old mate, probably in his mid 60s, on riding Mullagmore (strong Irish lilt)

"I have to admire young guys like Connor Mcguire, hes a small man - but hes got big balls."

I hope Leroy is still dishing out the gold at his age. Farkin legend

P'tai Monday, 1 Oct 2018 at 08:38 am new

Leroy lost it years ago.........

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