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Tonn Marcaíocht - Surfing
The Crew of the HMS Endeavour under one Captain James Cook were the first peoples to witness the art of surfing.
That was in 1769 when they landed in Polynesia. Surfing was suppressed and almost forgotten through the influence
of western missionaries. However, Westerners revived surfing when it was rediscovered almost simultaneously in both
America and Australia. A revival in it’s native Hawaii followed. Today surfing’s popularity continues to grow!
A first Irish surfer is said to have been Joe Roddy who rode the waves off Dundalk on Ireland’s east coast in a self made
board around the year, 1949. The names of Kevin Cavel and Ian Hill are remembered as progenitors of Ireland’s surf scene
which became a firm phenomenon in the 1960’s. Today Ireland’s surf scene continues as Ireland bears out a reputation as
one of the surf capitals of the world.
Origins of surfing can be traced to somewhere in the Pacific ocean some three thousand years ago. Among archaeologists,
ancient Peru is believed to have been the cradle of surfing. Images of people riding on waves on what very much resemble
surfboards adorn pottery found here.
The “boards” that appear on the found pottery are considered to be half way between a boat and a surfboard and called
“Caballito de Totora”. They are thought to have been made from bouyant reeds.
Those in the know would tell you that the Irish beaches of Kerry’s Inch Strand, Clare’s Lahinch, Keel or Bundoran in
Donegal – have some of the best surf outside of Hawaii!
www.surfingireland.com
www.bundoransurf.com
Photo © Chris May
249
The Crew of the HMS Endeavour under one Captain James Cook were the first peoples to witness the art of surfing.
That was in 1769 when they landed in Polynesia. Surfing was suppressed and almost forgotten through the influence
of western missionaries. However, Westerners revived surfing when it was rediscovered almost simultaneously in both
America and Australia. A revival in it’s native Hawaii followed. Today surfing’s popularity continues to grow!
A first Irish surfer is said to have been Joe Roddy who rode the waves off Dundalk on Ireland’s east coast in a self made
board around the year, 1949. The names of Kevin Cavel and Ian Hill are remembered as progenitors of Ireland’s surf scene
which became a firm phenomenon in the 1960’s. Today Ireland’s surf scene continues as Ireland bears out a reputation as
one of the surf capitals of the world.
Origins of surfing can be traced to somewhere in the Pacific ocean some three thousand years ago. Among archaeologists,
ancient Peru is believed to have been the cradle of surfing. Images of people riding on waves on what very much resemble
surfboards adorn pottery found here.
The “boards” that appear on the found pottery are considered to be half way between a boat and a surfboard and called
“Caballito de Totora”. They are thought to have been made from bouyant reeds.
Those in the know would tell you that the Irish beaches of Kerry’s Inch Strand, Clare’s Lahinch, Keel or Bundoran in
Donegal – have some of the best surf outside of Hawaii!
www.surfingireland.com
www.bundoransurf.com
Photo © Chris May
249
