New National Surf Centre Aims to Attract Over 40,000 Visitors Annually

30th June 2023

Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin TD with surfers pictured with Jack Leyden, front left (Sligo) Adam Leyden (Dublin), and Allanna Herity (Maghera) at the official opening of the new state-of-the-art National Surf Centre, Strandhill, Co. Sligo. Fáilte Ireland, Department of Rural and Community Development and Sligo County Council together have invested €3m in the unique visitor experience, which will position Strandhill as a world class surfing destination along the Wild Atlantic Way route Credit: Barry Cronin

The new national surf centre in Sligo’s Strandhill aims to attract over 40,000 visitors annually by 2028, two Government ministers have predicted.

This may rise to over 50,000 visitors annually by 2033, according to Minister for Tourism and Sport Catherine Martin and Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys.

“Fáilte Ireland anticipates the visitors attracted to the National Surf Centre, Strandhill will generate revenue exceeding €34million in the Sligo region by 2033, creating new economic opportunities for local communities and indirectly supporting 21 jobs annually,” Ms Martin said.

The new National Surf Centre at Strandhill in County Sligo Photo: Barry Cronin

Ms Humphreys said she was pleased that her department was able to support the surf centre with an investment of over €1.1 million under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.

Orla Carroll, Director of Product Development at Fáilte Ireland, said the centre developed by her organisation in partnership with Sligo County Council and the Department of Rural Community Development, is a “major new activity tourism amenity”.

“ The new centre delivers on Fáilte Ireland’s “Opening the Outdoors” strategic pillar, supporting our ambition to develop Ireland as an internationally recognised outdoor activity destination,” she said.

Home to three surf schools and the County Sligo Surf Club, the centre will offer a “vast and inclusive programme of services to suit every surfer, from novice to experienced”.

The centre features artwork on the front exterior by Donegal artist and surfer, Barry Britton.

The centre’s funding breakdown is as follows:

National Surfing Centre’s funding breakdown

Published in Surfing

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Surfing

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