Rossnowlagh Intercounties Surfing Contest 2009
Well its time again for the 41st Intercounties Surf Contest in Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal which has become (in)famous both at home and internationally as THE Social Event of the Irish Surfing Calendar.  Teams from all over the coastal and not so coastal regions of Ireland converge on the beach break of Rossnowlagh to battle it out for the prestigious Vinny Britton Cup. Teams consist of 3-4 members and must have ISA Membership.  Entries will be taken from 9-10 on the Saturday morning at Rossnowlagh Surf Club. Entry is €40 per team.

Last year’s winners were a young Sligo team with very deep Sligo roots. Already rumours are circulating of many strong teams making the trek to the North West. These include the perennial veterans of Waterford and the young guns of Sligo and Mayo. On home waters there will be the usual plethora of teams from Donegal with the competition between the Rossnowlagh-based Donegal A and the two surf shop sponsored teams from up the road at glamorous Bundoran.  Despite all this competition the contest is still all about having the craic, with teams from such surf meccas as Dublin, Wicklow, Offaly and Laois having competed in the past. There is plenty of  opportunity to claim top scalps for many of Irelands recreational surfers and talented groms, as they have many times in the past on Rossnowlagh’s mushy beach-break – a great leveller.

The social centre will, as usual, be the Surfers Bar with entertainment by Acoustic Breaks on the Friday and, by popular demand, the rockin’ Moonchild on the Saturday Evening. There will also be a Surfers Meal in The Surfers Bar pre-music for those who need the stomach lined!!

There is plenty of accommodation available this year with the SandHouse Hotel (071) 9851777 doing a Surfers Special B&B Rate of €65 per person for those who want to be right next door to the action .

The B&B’s in town are the Smugglers Creek (071) 9852366 and the Ard-Na-Mara (071) 9851141 right next door to each other.  Both have ideal locations right overlooking the beach on the cliffs.

There are three houses available for rent in town. They are, in order of proximity to the beach;
‘Mums House’ , Sleeps 6, €260 for the weekend, 086 8409909
Gordons Clifftop, Sleeps 6, €175 for w/e, 087 2193133
Barry Gallagher, Sleeps 7, €300 for w/e, 087 2107886

The above accommodation providers are also listed in more detail at www.finmccoolsurfschool.com/accommodation-2 . They, along with Mello Cafe and Fin McCool Surf School, are also proud sponsors of this year’s  intercounties. As usual thanks are also due to Barry Britton for his phenomenal posters, Gavin McCrea for his creative prizes and all the volunteers at Rossnowlagh Surf Club and the ISA.

All other queries please phone Neil Britton at 086 8049909 or e-mail neilbritton@gmail.com.