Easter Anniversary For Ireland's First 'Surfari'

28th March 2016

Kevin Cavey (right) in Sligo in 1967 with one of Ireland's first fibreglass surfboards Credit: Kevin Cavey

#Surfing - This Easter weekend marks the 50th anniversary of Ireland's first ever 'surfari', with some of the original surfing evangelists recreating their pioneering trip.

As related to the Irish Examiner, the expedition was mounted by Bray Ireland Surfing Club founder Kevin Cavey who, after being inspired by images of surfing from a Reader's Digest magazine, set out for Strandhill with friends in search of some proper waves to ride, some of them on improvised handmade boards.

Their trip soon saw them cross paths with the famous Britton family in Rossnowlagh, who had only a couple of years before ridden two of the first surfboards imported into Ireland.

And as Cavey would have it, there was no turning back for what's become Ireland's pre-eminent surfing dynasty – even if their antics on the waves prompted concern from the local authorities.

The Irish Examiner has much more on the story HERE.

Published in Surfing

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MacDara Conroy

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MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business

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