A wave of enthusiasm swept through a council chamber this week as they learnt that their town could become the first ever centre for excellence for surfing in Ireland, one of only two in Europe.
A presentation in relation to the centre was made by Brian Mac Carthaigh the Chairperson of the Irish Surfing Association and Emmet Doherty a member of the Irish surfing team was greeted with unanimous support by Bundoran Town Councillors on Tuesday
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Surfing has seen exponential growth in Bundoran in recent years and numbers to the area expected to rise potentially in the future. “A key challenge for the future, is to see surfing in Bundoran achieving greater benefits to tourism in the town while maintaining the quality of surfing life and a vibrant surf community that currently define the town,” the councillors heard.
The centre is expected to cost around one million euros. Seventy percent of the funding is expected from European Structural Fund, 25 percent is expected to come from Local Government in the form of land for site and feasibility study and 5 percent from the sports council.
Mr Doherty, a Bundoran board rider, pointed out the benefits that such a centre might have for Bundoran during the presentation stating that surfing was not sunshine dependant and would generate revenue to the area during the off peak season. “Surfing is a clean, green and sustainable natural resource and it creates sustainable employment directly and indirectly. It extends tourism into the shoulder and off peak season. It is not sunshine dependant,” Mr Doherty said.
The centre which promises to earn Bundoran a world wide reputation for surfing promises to create three to four full-time jobs and several part-time jobs. Portugal was granted funding from their government in December of last year for such a centre and France is home to such a centre. It was also noted that Bundoran was the fifth best area in Europe for waves.
Sean McEniff said that he was completely in support of the idea and proposed that a small committee be set up to liase with the sporting authority. Cllr McEniff added that some cross border funds may be drawn in a bid to help with the project “because Bundoran Town Council will be called on to make a substantial contribution.”
The preferred site for the centre is next to Waterworld overlooking ‘The Peak’ where the old tennis courts used to be.
The project promises to be self sustaining once established. All councillors were in favour of supporting the proposed project.
