Surf spots and live cams in Ireland West

• Lackan Bay Ballina · Beginner · Beach break
  A small, north-facing bay on the north Mayo coast, west of Killala Bay, with a sandy strand at its head.
• Kilcummin Harbour Killala · Expert · Reef break
  A heavy left-hand reef by the small harbour at Kilcummin Head, on the western side of Killala Bay.
• Achill – Dugort Dugort · Beginner · Beach break
  A Blue Flag beach below Slievemore on the north side of Achill Island.
• Achill – Keel Keel · Beginner · Beach break
  A long sandy beach on the south side of Achill Island, between the village of Keel and the Minaun cliffs.
• Achill – Dooega Dooega · Intermediate · Beach break
  A small, south-facing cove at Camport Bay on the southern tip of Achill, between steep hills and the Minaun cliffs.
• Carrowniskey Louisburgh · Intermediate · Beach break
  A large, gently sloping beach south-west of Louisburgh, open to the full Atlantic.
• Killadoon Louisburgh · Intermediate · Beach break
  A long beach south of Carrowniskey, looking across to Inishturk.
• Doonloughan Ballyconneely · Intermediate · Beach break
  A beach among the dunes and commonage near Ballyconneely, south of Clifden in Connemara.
• Fanore Beginner · Beach break
  A Blue Flag beach on the edge of the Burren, with dunes behind it and stepped limestone that shows at low tide.
• Doolin – Crab Island Doolin · Expert · Slab
  A heavy right-hand slab off the little island just outside Doolin harbour.
• Doolin Point Doolin · Advanced · Point break
  A right-hand point breaking over flat, sharp limestone next to Doolin harbour.
• Aileens Liscannor · Expert · Reef break
  A famous big-wave right that breaks below the Cliffs of Moher.
• Lahinch – The Left Lahinch · Intermediate · Reef break
  A long left breaking off the rock ledge at the end of Lahinch beach.
• Lahinch Beach Lahinch · Beginner · Beach break
  The beach in Lahinch, a seaside resort that has become a renowned surf town, at the head of Liscannor Bay.
• Cregg Beach Lahinch · Intermediate · Beach break
  A beach and reef on the coast south-west of Lahinch, with peaks on the sand and a left-hand reef.
• Spanish Point – Reefs Spanish Point · Advanced · Point break
  A set of right-hand reefs (inside, middle and outside point) north of the beach at Spanish Point.
• Spanish Point Beach Spanish Point · Beginner · Beach break
  A long, straight sandy beach at Spanish Point.
• Doughmore Doonbeg · Advanced · Beach break
  A long, open beach below the dunes and the golf links north of Doonbeg.
• Doonbeg – Castle Reef Doonbeg · Advanced · Reef break
  A hollow left-hand reef breaking over a rock ledge below the ruins of Doonmore Castle, on the western shore of Doonbeg Bay.
• Killard – White Strand Doonbeg · Beginner · Beach break
  A sheltered Blue Flag beach on the western side of Doonbeg Bay.

Ireland West in the guides

• Surfing in February
  Aileen's below the Cliffs of Moher, the slab at Crab Island and the reefs around Doolin take the full force of winter swell. Expect cold water and few people.
• Surfing in April
  Lahinch and the Clare coast have long spring evenings and steady west swells. The surf town is busy; the beaches either side are not.
• Surfing in May
  Lahinch is Ireland's busiest surf town, with schools and cafés; the long beaches further along the Clare coast are much quieter.
• Surfing in June
  June gives you summer weather and the longest days of the year before the school holidays begin. Swells are usually small, so think longboards, lessons and dawn patrols, or the exposed corners of Portugal, Cornwall and Ireland that catch what there is.
• Surfing in August
  Lahinch is Ireland's best-known surf town, with sandbanks for every level and schools along the promenade. The water peaks at about 16 °C.
• Surfing in December
  Aileen's below the Cliffs of Moher only breaks on large, long-period west swells, which makes winter its season. For elite big-wave surfers; watch from the cliff path.
• Best spots to learn to surf
  Where to take your first waves: forgiving sandy beaches with surf schools, from Biarritz and the Basque coast to Peniche, the Costa Vicentina and Lanzarote, and from Cornwall and Donegal to the North Sea.
• Uncrowded winter waves
  Mayo and Clare have long, open beaches like Killadoon and Doughmore that catch every swell and are almost always empty.
• Big waves and expert spots
  Aileen's, the giant right below the Cliffs of Moher, and the heavy slab at Crab Island off Doolin harbour.
• West of Ireland road trip
  Lahinch and the reefs of County Clare, the big-wave reef under the Cliffs of Moher, the open beaches of Mayo and the two sides of Achill Island.