Hugh Galloway rips

I first saw Hugh surf at this very same spot a couple of years ago with Fergal, and the 2 of them ripped the place apart. A couple of years on he still charges harder than ever, he paddled out here the other day when alot of others were staying in there cars with the heaters on full with a nervous look on their faces whether to go out or not, most didn't. He got a couple of great barrels before his leash snapped and had the good old swim in, when Hugh walked past me i said to him "looks heavy and a bit all over the place", his reply was "ah it's nice once you get out the back, good hollow barrels". I ended up giving him my longboard leash and he went running back out and pulled into some really nice barrels, most of which i missed due to the wave in front sending too much spray up, maybe i should jump in the water and shoot...I don't think so! Hugh pretty much dropped into everything everyone alse paddled for the shoulder until dark, the kid's got balls, some shots below from the session

1 of many bystanders

Straight out of the lip

Slotted

Basement level

Style

Pumping week of surf

This last week has been pretty good, i've been tripping all around the place trying to find new spots in the heaving swells as well as trying to get some sun for the photos...well you can't win them all i guess. The big yellow thing in the sky never showed up really but can't complain as I saw some great surfing in various spots up and down the coast. One day in particular was when the big 10m swell hit, there was alot of sth in the swell so hunting down somewhere out of the blasting wind was a challenge, but I found Paul out by himself at a stormy Easky right, he pretty much got blown away and the US navy found him in Nova Scotia, opps sorry that was my kite i lost. Paul got a few waves much to the delight of the surfers that had turned up and decided wisely not to head out. Anyways here's a few pics of the last week, enjoy.

TemptationsCain Kilcullen

Paul O'Kane

Paul O'Kane

aye there's me gold

Mikee Hamilton

Mikee Hamilton

Dave Lavelle

Sweet paradise

Home is calling

I got an email from NZ telling me to check out NZ Surfing mag online for a look at a beast of a wave they had recently surfed for the first time back home. I straight away got on to mum to send me a copy over(cheers mum, and thanks for the socks), it arrived yesterday in the post and wow it blew me away, after seeing how you don't really need a big swell to get big waves over here in Ireland I knew there would be some gold in surf soaked NZ. This wave is 20 or so km's off the coast so all that produced this was a 4m swell, i am loving it. Cory Scott was the photographer, the lads who took it on were Sam Willis, Damon Gunness, Daniel Kereopa, Felix Dickson, 2 skis and a 14ft boat with spare fuel and a band aid! Fiar balls to them, they surfed for 6 hrs solid in sunshine, from what i hear they're still grinning ear to ear. It's got me pumped for now i know not only are there tow spots being found but there are some damn good surfers amped to tackle them, can hardly wait to get home. So much potential and espeacially at places like this where a good part for the year it's near glassy conditions with the sun out.
Thee mag

Insanely beautiful

Winter '07

Everyone seems to be doing a bit of videoing these days so i thought i'd better jump on the band wagon before my hard drive packs up. Back in 2006 i bought me self a crappy camcorder just to muck around with and it broke in 2008! It just so happened that i had ended up capturing the swell of the decade in Feb '07, Doolin was just a white water mess, including the locals many have said there were waves of 80ft on the face at Aileens this day, when you watch this keep in mind i filmed this at high tide and Aileens is barrelling it's tits off and check out how it's breaking on the stack at high tide too! Some really scary footage at the start of someone getting rolled over boulder alley at Aileens. Al getting whipped in by Cotty on a perfect monster peak, with some smaller waves towed by Axi and Benjiman putting on a mental display of barrel riding earlier in Dec '07, my apologies for the camera zoomed out so far, i was taking photos at the same time which brought me to the idea below. And some footage of Steve towing Tom and Paul towing Duncan New Years eve '07. Music by "No us for a name". It's only short and the camera quality is absolute shite but enjoy anyways, something from the past.


The idea occurred to me while trying to film and photograph at the same time at Aileens in '07, i finally decided to take my idea to good mate Graham recently, he polished the design off and carved it out of a solid block of Aluminum, and this is the result. Cheers Graham, all i need now is for someone to sponsor me a decent camcorder...please

Barrelling Bundoran

Cian Logue

Went for a walkabout today and ended up at Fundoran, nice little waves coming thru, the usual spots working. Neil Britton was out along with Emmet Doherty, they looked a bit stuffed from the session earlier in the morning before i turned up, sounded like the peak was really cookn. This little spot i got to in time was barrelling it's tits off, young Cian Logue from Ballyshannon was pulling into some real gems getting a couple of nice cover ups, a couple of bodyboarders out there got a 7 second barrel each according to the time sequence on me camera, sik stuff, but the surfer of the day was Damien Conway from Lahinch, you could really tell the lad has surfed alot of reefs around Clare, taking late drops with ease and pulling into the barrel effortlessly, was worth the trip up, the sun was even out for a change.

Emmet Doherty

Danien Conway

Damien Conway

7 secound Barrel

Mental Mullaghmore

What a day of everything, the weather was the normal doom and gloom but we didn't care cause the waves were insane, one hell of a big day for Mullaghmore, great crew of guys on it, really worked together well, there was Mikee, Paul, Al, Cotty, Duncan surfing, with Dave as back up & safety as well as taking a bit of video alot bit closer than we could get in the boat, had Declan driving the boat with myself and Joe trying to get something on the cameras through the rain & misty spray rocking about like no tomorrow. Mikee took the rope first being the only Goofy foot out there and bagged a couple of bombs that we missed due to unforseen circumstanes with the boat which made us an hour late, apparently one of his waves was just mental, also missed Cotty's bomb that nailed him big time ripping off his £700 brand new knee brace & almost his leg too!! Once we were out there it was really bumpy and heaving. I couldn't help but wonder if all these guys are nuts or just so stoked on surfing that they couldn't pass this up. I was crapping myself as everytime i went to shoot some shots i nearly fell out of the boat with all the chop! It was great to see it all from the water thou as this was the first time here for me from that angle, pretty unreal. Duncan got some impressive waves, seemingly not fazed by the size of it all. Paul got some great ones and did a stonking job on the driving and big Al got the squarest wave i have ever seen. For more of a story go to Wavelength. Can hardly wait till the next time, cheers guys

Mikee gunning it

A week in the life of Al & Cotty

Al and Cotty's amazing week, it all started on the 20th of October when Al Mennie and Andrew Cotton drove 7 hrs thru the night for one of the biggest sessions ever surfed at Aileens, the only other surfers who dared take her on was Fergal and Shane, with 3 other skis in the water watching. They surfed what is been said as the biggest day surfed there, you can see some photos of mine on Towsurfer.com. After that Al and Cotty then had to drive 7hrs back up to Portrush then hope on a plane to Oregon via Heathrow airport to compete in the Nelscott Reef Classic on the 22nd of October doing UK and Ireland proud. After geting back a few days later there was a call on for Aileens again, not so big this time but good for a paddle so they drove down 7hrs again thru the night to surf it at day break on the 27th October, Al paddled into a few nice ones and then they towed a few along with Paul O'Kane, and if that was not enough Crab was going off so they then surfed that for 4 hrs before packing up and heading back up north, but this time instead of another 7hr drive it ended up being a days drive as the van broke down. These 2 guys have heart and soul when it comes to there passion, surfing, they don't winge about fat waves and being bored, they're just stoked to be out there surfing and having the honor and skill to ride these monsters, fair balls to yas, yas are a bigger man than i'll ever be. hahaha
Have just found out that they have also have been accepted for nomination for the Billabong XXL, so congrats guys and well done.

Andrew Cotton

Al Mennie

Aileens October

Hey hey hey...John & Debs got married 19/09/2009

The Happy CoupleHere Comes the Bride

The Lads

Congratulations John & Deborah Heffernan
What an awesome day, the forecast was for wind & rain, there was no way that was going to happen, the sun shined all day on the happy couple. My good surfing mate John finally got married, it may have taken a while but it could not have been more perfect for John & Debs. Debs arrived traditionally late, when she stepped out of the back seat of the car you could see a real sparkle in her eye and a smile so genuine you could not help but smile back, Debs looked absolutely stunning along with her mother Carol & bridesmaid Kathleen, Debs dad Dave walked her down the aisle pass the smiling faces to a grinning John. John & the lads looked smart in their suits & looked proudly on as the ceremony commenced. After a few words & prayers they exchanged vowels & sealed with a kiss. Then the party started, held in the glorious Knockranny house it was set to be a big night. A bit too big for some! I just want to say a big thank you & congratulations on behalf of everyone to John & Debs for an awesome day that none of us will ever forget.
Cheers
Debs mum Carol
The wedding Party

Father & Bride with Bridesmaid

The Heffernan clan

The Entrance

25th Annual Warriors Run

They have to run from here to the top of Knocknarea & back down to the start/finsh line on the seafront of Strandhill

Winner Josphat Boit
Congratulations!!

It was a great day & night had by all, the 25th anniversary of the Warriors Festival was held in brilliant sunshine with a sea breeze keeping the runners & walkers cool, nearly 800 runners turned up for the gruelling 15km run up Knocknarea, the biggest year of runners ever, the crowd was on there feet the whole time, with the 1st runner Jospaht Boit coming in at a record breaking 0:53:04 the crowd went mental, the 1st local home was Turlough Conway in 0:59:11. The 1st woman home was Anne Fitzpatrick in 1:14:54 & not far behind was the 1st local woman Aisling Cawley in 1:18:32. Lots of celebratory pints of Guinness went down afterwards with both the Strand bar & The Bellavista packed to the max with happy campers, there was a 10min display of fireworks which were amazing to watch in the clear calm night, congratulations to all the runners & walkers & hope to see you there next year.
For more info & finish times visit
www.warriorsfestival.com

Local surfer Aine came in at a very fast 1:23:53

Local Claire came in at a very respectable 1:34:46

Sligo open

Sligo Open Champion Aaron ReidRunner up Andrew Kilfeather

Gary Hall

It was a weekend of all sorts with howling onshore winds on the Saturday causing mayhem in the line up, then come Sunday lite offshores and a ever decreasing short period swell, they made the most of it thou and got the comp finished. Aaron Reid came up trumps to take the open and the U18, Andrew Kilfeather came 2nd in the open and won the longboard event. But if there was a entertainers trophy it would have to go to pint sized Gearad McDaid with his head stands, 360's and general fun antics, pleasing the crowd with clapping and laughter. A great day had by all.

Entertainer Gearad McDaid

Longboard Champion Andrew Kilfeather

John Coady

Too much time on ya hands

Karim Rejeb is a man with far too much time on his hands but he is using it wisely to entertain us all during these flat spells, check out this hilarious video on how to past time, hats off to you Mr. Rejeb you certainly made me laugh

Me, me mate Dazza and U2

Me good mate Dazza

Wow what a frign nite that was, i managed to score some insane tickets for U2 last Saturday in Croke park, we were in a restricted area so when everywhere else in the stadium was wedged to the eyeballs with smelly armpits, farts and people pushing you left, right and centre we had the luxury of only a few around us and the outside walkway of the stage only 2m away! When U2 came on the stage you couldn't help it but admire how far they've come from the late 70's singing to only a few school mates to now when the cheer was that loud from the 80,000 strong crowd you could hardly hear the opening tune, as Bono himself walked on the cameras projected his image onto the massive 360 screen above, Bono had a grin as wide as Coke park in amazement at the crowd which was great to see that even he was taken back by it all, they belted out the tunes for just over 2 hrs, it was a great nite
cheers U2