Ireland, the New Frontier for Big Wave Surfing!

Hawaii may have the sun and Pacific swells, but for a truly magnificent Atlantic swell and some awesome scenery to boot, surfers and surf photographers need to get to Ireland!

The above was shot at Mullaghmore on Ireland's west coast. We've been catching some fantastic swells lately and the waves down along the west coast have been absolutely majestic.

Peter Martin has captured some beautiful surf shots during these swells and his final edited piece is a real testament to the skill of the surfers and their tow in partners, but most of all it's a real testament to nature's awesome power and the beauty of Ireland's Atlantic coast.

Ireland is fast becoming a popular spot on the surfers safari and the recent documentary film Waveriders has shown how many of the top surfers already hold the surf here in such high esteem.

Waveriders features some phenomenal footage shot all along Irelands west coast and traces Irelands connection with surfing right back to the sports earliest revival in the 20th century. The film's high point has to be the footag shot at 'Aileens', the monster swell off the Co Clare coast and at the foot of the majestic Cliffs of Moher.

The same spot also featured in a commercial for an Irish bank a couple of years ago with Irish pro-surfer John McCarthy taking on the might of 'Aileens' for the camera.

The Malloys also filmed in Ireland as part of their 2000 surf film with Jack Johnson "Thicker than Water." Proving beyond a doubt that for surf photographers and film makers Ireland had as much to offer as it does to the surfers themselves.

So next time you see big waves and big wave surfers, don't just think of exotic locales, because we Irish have been hiding some of the best waves in the world! Like Kelly Slater says, "It's a cold paradise!"