National Surf Centre of Excellence

Contract Signing Strandhill Surf Centre

Contract Signing Strandhill Surf Centre

The delivery of the National Surf Centre of Excellence in Strandhill took a major step forward this week with the signing of the construction contract at County Hall.

The €2.7m facility has been funded by Sligo County Council, Failte Ireland, and the Department of Rural Community and Development. 

The state of the art facility will be a used by local, national and international surfers, and will cater for those providing advanced surfing training up to international standard – including video analysis equipment, training rooms and virtual surfing experience. 

Tourist attraction

The centre will include an interpretative display of the history of surfing in Ireland and the many local tourist attractions, and will provide a central meeting and promotional point for local tourism businesses, including walking tours and adventure providers. 

The Cathaoirleach Councillor Paul Taylor said

This is a hugely important project for our Council and our community. Strandhill is already recognised as a prime surfing destination, and this facility will further enhance its reputation on the national and international stage, Our objective to promote Sligo as a key tourism hub receives a major boost with this development.’ 

Investment in community

Local TD and Minister of State at the Department of Health Frank Feighan stated;

“I was delighted to attend the contract signing on behalf of my government colleague, Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development as this project is truly a significant boost for the community of Standhill and the Sligo region, it puts Sligo on the map as the surfing centre of Ireland bringing visitors from across Europe and the United States” . This government and the one before has put community and rural investment through our local authorities at the core of its programme for government delivering exciting and innovative projects like this one here in Strandhill delivering investment and jobs”.

Flagship project

Chair of Strandhill Community Maritime Company Councillor Declan Bree described the Maritime Centre as

'A flagship project for Sligo and the region. The delivery of the centre is due to the exceptional partnership of the surfing community and the people of Strandhill community who have worked with the County Council and the funding agencies.  This facility will be the best of its kind in the country and will attract great interest from local and visiting surfers.’ 

Orla Carroll, Director of Product Development for Fáilte Ireland said

“Fáilte Ireland is pleased to be collaborating with Sligo County Council on the development of the National Surfing Centre of Excellence and investing a Capital Grant of just over €1.35m into the project. . The new National Surfing Centre of Excellence will aid the development of tourism in Strandhill by providing state-of-the-art services and facilities for surfing schools, surf visitors and others, helping to support the recovery of the industry in Sligo post Covid-19.”  

World class surfing destination 

“Ireland has huge potential to develop as a world class surfing destination and this Centre will be a key new visitor experience on the Wild Atlantic Way, growing visitor numbers and increasing dwell time in the region.  The Centre will serve a number of important functions, including becoming a flagship facility on the Wild Atlantic Way for surfing and water sports, and creating a hub for tourism in Strandhill and Co. Sligo where visitors can find information, orientation and experiences.”  

Acting Chief Executive Tom Kilfeather said

'The signing of the contract for the Maritime Centre is the latest in a series of major capital investments in our county’. Mr Kilfeather paid tribute to the project team, the Chair and Members of the Maritime Board, Failte Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development for their hard work and expertise in bringing it to fruition.’ 

Project details: Strandhill Community Maritime Ltd

  • Chair:  Councillor Declan Bree
  • Secretary:  Mick McEnroe

Design Team

The Design Team is as follows:

  • Sligo County Council: Sean Martin A/Senior Architect, Keith Monaghan, Executive Engineer
  • Keys and Monaghan - Architects (Design Team Lead)
  • Sammon - Quantity Surveyors
  • Taylor & Boyd - Civil and Structural Consultant Engineers
  • Delap & Waller - Mechanical & Electrical Consultants
  • Park Hood - Landscape Architects

Building Contractor:

  • Arken Construction Ltd., Collooney, Co. Sligo and Norris Plant Hire Ltd., Ballisadare, Co.sligo
 Contract Signing Strandhill Surf Centre  Image1 Attending the signing of contract for new Surf Centre of Excellence Strandhill were:
Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and National Drugs Strategy, Frank Feighan, TD, Cathaoirleach Councillor Paul Taylor, Chair of Strandhill Maritime Board, Councilllor Declan Bree
 Contract Signing Strandhill Surf Centre  Image2 Attending the signing of contract for new Surf Centre of Excellence Strandhill were:
Front row: L-R Members of Board Strandhill Maritime Board Councillor Sinead Maguire and Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady, Secretary Strandhill Maritime Board, Mick McEnroe
Middle row: L-R Tom Kilfeather, A/Chief Executive, Minister Frank Feighan, Cathaoirleach Councillor Paul Taylor, Councillor Declan Bree, Chair Strandhill Maritime Board
Back Row: L-R: Alex Norris, Norris Plant Hire, Stephen Clancy, Aiken Construction