Windsurfing is increasingly popular in Ireland, and some spots play host to vast flotillas of colorful sails and wet-suited windsurfers when conditions are good. Some of the best locations are in remote areas of the west coast, and those spots are rarely crowded. Windsurfing schools with boards for rent can be found in most regions of the country, with the greatest concentration on the southeast and southwest coasts.
In Dublin the most popular spot is Dollymount Beach; Salthill, behind Dun Laoghaire Harbour, is another good choice. In the southeast, try Brittas Bay (County Wicklow), Cahore (County Wexford), and Rosslare (County Wexford). Dunmore East (County Waterford), Dungarvan (County Waterford), and Cobh (County Cork) are good in the south. The most challenging waves and winds are in the west, at Brandon Bay on the Dingle Peninsula, Roundstone in Galway, Achill Island in Mayo, and Magheroarty and Rossnowlagh in Donegal.
Because even skilled windsurfers spend a sizable portion of their time in the water, the water quality is surely a concern. Ireland has 27 designated European Union "Blue Flag" beaches and marinas, and Northern Ireland has 12. To find a complete listing or to check out a particular beach in advance, go to www.blueflag.org.
Windsurfing Resources
Equipment rental and lessons are widely available on Ireland's coasts and lakes. Try the following centers: the Surfdock Centre, Grand Canal Dock Yard, Ringsend, Dublin 4 (tel. 01/668-3945; fax 01/668-1215; www.surfdock.ie); the Dunmore East Adventure Centre, Dunmore East, County Waterford (tel. 051/383783; fax 051/383786); Oysterhaven Windsurfing Centre, Oysterhaven, Kinsale, County Cork (tel. 021/770738; fax 021/770776); Cappanalea Outdoor Education Centre, Oulagh West, Caragh Lake, County Kerry (tel. 066/976-9244); and, in the North, Craigavon Watersports, 1 Lake Rd., County Armagh (tel. 028/3834-2669).
If kite surfing is your thing, check out the website www.kitesurfing.ie. It offers advice on where to buy or rent boards, the best locations, weather conditions, and it hooks you up with other kite surfers.
