Learner surfers were more than welcome at the fourth annual seaside festival in Tramore, Co Waterford last weekend.

The Irish Independent reports that Tramore beach is popular with surfing novices who want to develop their skills before tackling the bigger waves on the west coast.

And the hundreds who turned out to give surfing a try are surely a testament to that.

"We're very accessible with the new road, it's a fantastic place to learn," said surf school instructor Martin Cullinane.
Tramore is the "best place in the country to learn" according to festival organiser Linda Tuohy.

The weekend also featured a number of events recognising the Waterford town's relationship with the coastal environment.

A very different group of doggy paddlers made history last weekend at Ireland's first ever surfing contest for dogs.

Organised at Lahinch beach by Co Clare-based dog trainer Raquel Noboa, the event raised around €500 for Guide Fogs for the Blind.

"It was a fantastic day and it's a great way to get people off the couch," she told the Irish Independent.

BBC News has a gallery of photos of the dog day afternoon HERE.

The final line-up has been confirmed for Ireland's team at the European Surfing Championships in Bundoran later this week.

Rossnowlagh's John Britton joins his cousin Easkey Britton in the strong squad aiming for Eurosurf gold.

The rest of the team includes two-time Irish national champ Shane Meehan; former Irish Open Champion Stephen Kilfeather; and multiple-time women's body board champion Ashleigh Smith.

Also in the squad are Cain Kilcullen from Enniscrone; open surfer Oliver O’Flaherty; 2008 WSCS Longboard Champion Stephen Kelleher; Irish Student Champion Ronan Oertzen; Bundoran's Shauna Ward; body boarder Darragh McCarter; and Irish team veterans John McCurry and Richie Fitzgerald.

The action kicks off in Bundoran on 23 September with the competition running till 2 October.

Derry punk legends The Undertones will headline a hit music lineup to entertain the crowds at Eurosurf 2011 in Bundoran later this month.

The band best known for 'Teenage Kicks' top a weekend-long bill that includes popular traditional fusion group Kila, who will kick off the Eurosurf party on the Friday in what's often considered the 'surfing capital of Ireland'.

Dubliners Royseven will also play after the gala screening of Soul Surfer on Saturday 24 September.

The full lineup is available at discoverbundoran.com.

Eurosurf press officer Shane Smyth said: "We are thrilled with the calibre of musical acts which have been confirmed to play in Bundoran during Eurosurf. 

"The Undertones, Royseven and Kíla are sure to offer visitors and spectators an exciting and complementary plan which will ensure that between surfing and entertainment, a great time and experience will be had by all."

The European Surfing Championships take place in Bundoran from 24 September to 2 October.

A Limerick-based inventor has created what could soon become the 'Swiss Army Knife' for surfing enthusiasts the world over, The Irish Times reports.

The SurfBuckle, developed by Nick Ryan of new surfwear company LirChild, is a multi-purpose tool that allows surfers to adjust fins on their board as well as to remove and comb board wax, and can be worn as a belt buckle.

Ryan says he got the idea for the SurfBuckle from a friend who was stuck for a tool to remove fins from his surfboard at an airport.

The marketing and entrepreneurship student is currently using Fundit.ie to raise the €30,000 needed to start production of the tool, which will be built from steel and 'bioplastic'.

The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.

The Financial Times has highlighted Ireland as one of the world's top emerging surfing destinations.

"The quality of Irish surf has been recognised for many years, writes adventure journalist Alf Alderson, "but it’s only recently that it has really taken off as a top destination for everyone from beginner to big wave expert."

Bundoran in Co Sligo gets the biggest props among the west coast's surfing hotspots, boasting a range of surf for everyone from beginners to expert waveriders.

But Ireland's largest waves at Mullaghmore Point also get their due - with its 50 foot swells putting it in league with the best in the world. 

The Financial Times has more on the story HERE.

Irish Water Safety and the Irish Surfing Association ISA were at Lahinch Co Clare to launch a joint safe surfing poster to highlight the safety steps for a safe and enjoyable surfing experience. Pictured on the beach in Lahinch are below surfers Lorna Haydon (12), Dublin and Harry Broderick (14) from Ennis Co Clare.

Stephen Kilfeather retained his Irish Open Surfing Championship title at last weekend's County Sligo Open.

The 24-year-old Sligo native squeaked past fellow Team Ireland members Cain Kilcullen and Ronan Oertzen to clinch the title for the second year in a row at the final event of the 2011 Irish surfing tour.

“I’m stoked to win it again," said Kilfeather, who also came first at the weekend. "Back to back for two years running is a great achievement.” 

He said the competition was “a great warm-up for the European Surfing Championships in Bundoran" next month. 

Team Ireland members did well in the overall rankings in Sligo, with John Britton taking the senior title, Ashleigh Smith the women’s body board title, Shane Meehan the Bodyboard title, Easkey Britton the women’s title and John McCurry regaining the longboard title. Team Ireland manager Stevie Burns was also successful, winning the Masters title.

Watersports holidays at home make the perfect family getaway, according to The Irish Times.

The paper recently rounded up some of the best spots for making a splash with the kids – such as surfing, diving and cliff jumping in Donegal, and sailing and cruising in Kinsale - and all at prices that won't push the budget.

The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.

Budding photographers and designers from across Ireland, the UK and Europe are encouraged to take part in the Eurosurf European Surfing Championships poster design competition.

The winner will see their photo or design appear on the official contest poster and other promotional materials, and will also have the use of a Bunk Camper campervan for the duration of the weekend festival in Bundoran this September.

Eurosurf press officer Shane Smyth said: “Every day [on websites] we see some amazing images and designs relating to surfing. With such artistic talent out there, we decided to offer this opportunity to anyone who wants to take part with the hope of seeing their design appear on the official Eurosurf poster." 

Full details for entries are available on the Eurosurf Bundoran website. The closing date for submission is Wednesday 10 August, so get your creative hats on!