Comments...

comment by Local, 2007-11-02 22:19:59

4 stars my eyeball
Lads...go surf somewhere with real waves. Freke is no more 4 stars. Hahahaha that makes it better than Bingin. Yeah right. And the same rating as Impossibles? GET REAL. It's bloody inconsistent mush that works about once a month, and even then it's like Impossibles on a BAD day. 4 stars?!?!?!!?

comment by Stephen, 2006-12-15 23:50:36

Good Break When its on
When it's on, it's the closest thing i've surfed in Ireland to a French beach break (biarritz or similar). Works very rarely though.

comment by Paul, 2006-11-27 02:56:22

Wow
How does a place like this get a four star rating?? That's basically saying that it's as good as Padang-Padang. As for the crowding issue... Try surfing Ulus (which is a mere star better than this place) on a good day, then maybe you could be granted a quick whinge. But come on. Let's have a bit of perspective

comment by One of the crowd, 2006-11-02 18:07:58

Crowded ... yes it is.
The reason why nobody surfs down the beach is because the waves weak and soft. Having said that most beginners would be better off surfing down there. On a weekend the good peaks on Long Strand are as crowded as you will get in most spots around the world which are near a city. I always think it's funny when people from other places who have never surfed here decide they need to pipe up and tell you that you are wrong about how crowded it is! You must be imagining all those people in the water every day you surf there. If you are a good surfer and show respect, as always you will get your waves no matter how crowded. Act like a kook or throw your weight around and you will most likely get dropped in on.

comment by Anonymous, 2006-09-27 19:20:05

yeah it gewts crowded to the left but the beach is huge with peaks all along ,abit of walking and you can score to yourself and leave the sheep to fight it out amongst them selves.

comment by jersey, 2006-08-24 17:37:29

34-45 people...crowded? you dont know your born
try surfing in jersey in the summer or any epic winter day, pick a weekend and you have to battle paddle for any wave as there are at least 50+ in at the splash trying to surf a couple of peaks. if your lucky enough to catch a wave without some mouthy kids who talk a good wave trying to drop in, then you have to weave between those clowns paddling out at you and not over the shoulder.

comment by 'Almost' a local, 2006-05-22 17:50:24

Crowded ... YES
I lived in QLD and had many trips to west coast Aus around Margies and Yallingup and up to Kalbarri. I never surfed around Perth itself, but I can tell you that Castlefreke is very crowded when it's 2-4ft. I was there a few weeks ago and there were 35-45 people in the water on a week night as the weather was good and there was a wait high clean swell. Not exactly crowded like the gold coast but definitely up there with California. Even worse though, a lot of people in Ireland are beginner/intermediate, so it can feel much more crowded when people are dropping in a lot and there is no lineup priority. By further west I mean places in Kerry/Clare where you can easily find a sand wedge or reef to yourself. After Cork I headed to Clare and had a solid 3ft hollow reef with just 3 other blokes on a Friday evening (OK with slightly crossshore wind).

comment by cork city surfer with a good attitude to it all, 2006-05-19 15:38:59

almost a local Further west?
I dunno of many spots between long strand and barleycove you might be a gent and add em to the website for us so we might dillute the "crowds" a bit?

comment by i have been to oz, 2006-04-07 11:23:27

LOCAL
i agree with the irishman living in perth cus i have been there myself and its exactly how he says it is.

so the guy who says he's almost a local u need to go to perth then u will see how hectic it is compared to this nice quite spot.

this place can get crowded but the locals are good guys and they will let you have a few waves.

comment by 'Almost' a local, 2006-03-23 12:01:48

Ultra-Crowded
I have been travelling to southern Ireland twice a year for a long time now. This wave has become ultra-crowded over the last 3-4 years. The explosion in Irish surfing combined with a lack of good breaks and large population in Cork has made this a nightmare on good days. It's a good beach break, but certainly not world class. Don't think that you will cruise here and pick up set waves, as the locals are excellent surfers and committed. Arrive here at sun rise on a cold rainy December Monday morning and you can be sure that there will be a few guys in the water before you. People are normally friendly though. Head further west and you will find the uncrowded Irish surf that you are looking for.