“Surf’s up,” is rarely cried out in a thick Irish brogue. It is shouted even more rarely
on the Irish mainland itself—or so you’d expect.
As it turns out, one of the world’s most perfect waves was recently discovered off the coast of western Ireland
and now, surfboards rolling off the carousal at Shannon Airport is no longer the unimaginable sight it once was.
This wave isn’t for everyone, however. It is one of this planet’s true monster waves, soaring
20-30 feet high and requiring a tow-in and death wish for those willing to ride it. Only about ten people have
done so since last October but the wave, known as Aileen’s, is attracting a lot of attention in the surfing world these
days. Expect Hawaiian style surf tournaments to make their way here in the near future.
Part of the allure is the location of the wave that crashes just beyond Ireland’s famous Cliffs of
Mohr. This amazing stretch of coastal cliffs is a rugged shot of nature and beauty that attracts more than a
million tourists a year. I’ve stood on the edge of these cliffs and marveled at the crashing waves but
thanks to the cold Irish weather, frigid waters, and rocky conditions, I simply could never have imagined someone would
actually surf out there. But they are.
You can see for yourself in a short video clip here.