This article is from page 75 of the 2008-07-29 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 75 JPG
DESPITE all the doom and gloom about recessions and downturns, one north Clare business is beating all the trends.
Last weekend the Lahinch Surf School opened up new premises on Lahinch’s Main Street, bringing to four the company’s representa- tions around the county. The school, which was founded by senior Irish surf champion John McCarthy seven years ago, now operates surf schools in Kilkee, Spanish Point and Lahi- eee
The new premises will serve as a
booking office and surf shop, as well as showcasing some of the areas best SUM ROE- Iho m-vae
“The school has being going since 2002 and we have been based down in the beach-hut on the Prom since Wee
“We will be holding on to the beach-hut, that’s still where it’s all happening, but the shop is going to be somewhere that will be open all year- round and where people can drop in when the weather isn’t great,’ said surf school manager Sinead Finn.
“We will be selling our own brand materials there like t-shirts and tide tables, anything to do with the surf
shop. As well as that we have gotten on to a few local artists and photog- raphers, people like Ann Vaughan from Liscannor who has sent us in a few pieces.
We also have a number of surf pho- tographers from people like Paudie Scanlan and George Karbus, Al McKennon and Mikey Smith.
‘So as well as a shop it 1s an exhi- bition space and people can come in and buy the artwork and photographs TUE A OCA Vane 00
Over the past number of years La- hinch has been transformed into the surf capital of Ireland. Besides the hundreds who flock to the village
throughout the summer months the local surfers also won a place in the Guinness Book of Records in 2007 for the most surfers to surf the same wave at the one time.
School founder, John McCarthy, was also one of the group who first surfed Aileens Wave, the monster wave under the Cliffs of Moher.
The Lahinch Surf School is open seven days a week from 1lam to 6pm and is fully approved by the Irish Surfing Association.
People can book surf lessons at the new surf shop on Main Street, at the Surf-Hut on the Prom or by ringing 087 9609667.