Southern Ireland
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Positives
- Numerous reefs and beaches
- Sparsely populated line-ups
- All abilities beachbreaks
- Autumn/winter best
Negatives
- Constant onshores
- Few reefs and no pointbreaks
- Small or flat in summer
- Crowded main breaks when good
Southern Ireland surf travel guide
Southern Ireland is predominantly onshore in the normal SW airstream (that also afflicts Wales and SW England), but on the rare days that conditions come together the numerous reefs and beaches can throw up some surprisingly good quality waves. Generally needs big SW swell to work, meaning cold, lonely waves are the norm. More surfers appear closer to the centres of Cork and Tramore, keenly awaiting the convergence of a big SW swell and N winds at breaks like Long Strand and Tramore.
Surf spots in Southern Ireland
Research the 14 surf breaks in Southern Ireland and discover what spots suit the current conditions.
Break lowdown
We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 14 breaks in Southern Ireland.
Travel Information
General
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- Tourists
- 10,926,000
- Population
- 6,786,000
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Money
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- Dialing in
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- Dialing out
- Republic 00 - North 00
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- English, Irish (Gaelic)
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Visas
The Republic of Ireland is part of the EU free travel area but in principle the north is not. Post Brexit has added to the confusion and negotiations continue, but the border between the two remains open and free for travel. Check for any latest news. Many non EU member countries can visit visa free for up to 90 days
Getting There
Ferries from Fishguard dock at Rosslare at the east end of the region.
Getting Around
Hire a car at the airport and cruise the coast. It's a 3hr drive end to end.
Accommodation
A great area for campervan life and this mobility is the best way to get the best out of the fickle breaks. Otherwise, there are endless B&B's along the coast. It's not overly expensive but not cheap either.
Activities
Cork is a great city and when the surf is crap it's well worth spending a day or two enjoying what the locals call 'the best city in the world". Otherwise, the countryside and coastline are beautiful and just walking or driving around is a pleasure. Pub life everywhere is excellent.
Hazards & hassles
Cold, onshore winds and rain are sometimes relentless and disheartening. Away from the main breaks you will often be surfing alone so take extra care. Flat beaches mean tough paddle outs with lots of duck diving - higher tides will be much easier.
Handy Hints
Southern Ireland can be a frustrating and fickle zone for a surfer but mobility and a keen eye on the weather charts can lead to some great uncrowded sessions. Getting friendly with local surfers can really help in being at the right spot at the right time and the local surfers are generally a friendly bunch. Big swells can make some rare spots fire so look around and you might get lucky! www.onitsurf.com have a subscription webcam at Tramore. Surf shops in Tramore and Cork.
Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.