Our Favourite Irish Beaches For Surfing Beginners

Ireland has more than its fair share of brilliant beaches and spectacular scenery. The water may be cold, but Ireland is a surfer’s paradise. 

If you are looking to take up a new sport that will give you a serious workout, lots of fresh air and breath-taking scenery, then surfing could be the sport for you. Here in Ireland we have some of the best surfing beaches in the world. 

We have challenging big waves and long rolling beach brakes to choose from, and even if you are a beginner there are plenty of options. There are also plenty of surf schools dotted all around the coastline if you want to give surfing a go.

Today we are going to look at our favourite beaches for beginners. 

• Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal

Rossnowlagh in Donegal is one of the best beaches in Ireland to learn to surf. The 3km long blue flag beach provides consistent waves suitable for all levels of surfing including beginners.

• Tullan Strand, Bundoran, Co Donegal

Tullan Strand is really popular with both beginner and experienced surfers. There is a long golden beach that stretches for miles and a consistent beach break. At low tide the cliffs at the end of the beach make fast, hollow waves but if you head further down the beach the waves soften and the surfers spread out. 

• Strandhill, Co Sligo

Strandhill is another popular choice. The paddle out is easy and the waves are fairly reliable all year round. The offshore winds allow for clean conditions, and even if the wind isn’t on your side, you can probably still have a great day in the water. From the beach you can see Knocknarea and Benbulben which dominate the landscape. 

• Enniscrone, Co Sligo

This long sandy beach with rolling waves is a great spot. At over 5km the beach never feels crowded, so you should have plenty of space to practice your surfing skills. The water is shallow, so it is perfect for beginners.

• Lahinch Co, Clare

Lahinch is consistently voted one of the best surfing locations in Ireland. There is a wide range of surf breaks in the local area for more experienced surfers and there are excellent beaches with consistent waves for beginners.

• Fanore, Co Clare

In the heart of the Burren you can find Fanore, it is something of a hidden gem and is not very widely known. The views of the surrounding area are well worth a trip, but the reliable surf and rolling waves are perfect for beginners. 

• Inch Strand, Co Kerry

Inch Strand is a long sand spit reaching to the Dingle Peninsula. The reef break is far out to sea which allows one of the longest waves in Europe. It takes an experienced and very fit rider to ride it all the way to the shore. Having said that the long sandy beach means that beginners can join in too. 

• Inchydoney, West Cork

Inchydoney is a small island connected to the mainland by two small causeways. The beach is stunning, wide and sandy, perfect for those new to surfing. 

• Tramore, Co Waterford

Most of the top surfing spots in Ireland are to be found along the west coast, but if you find yourself in the east of the country, you can still catch some waves. Tramore, Co. Waterford is the best spot on the east coast. We would advise you to check the conditions before making the trip, the waves on the east coast are less reliable. 

• Whiterocks, Co Antrim

So we may be biased, but this beach offers some of the best surfing that the north coast has to offer. The long sandy beach, and consistent year round waves means that Whiterocks is a popular beach for surfers, whether you are a beginner or a pro.

The summer is over, but you can see that Ireland offers some great surfing all year round. You may need to invest in some gear for colder weather, check out our tips for colder days here. But don’t let that stop you, get out there and have fun!