REBEL SUP
Words and pics : Dave Ludgate Dave Ludgate , aka Subowti , talks us through his love of SUP in and around the waterways of Cork . Over to Dave …
I ’ m fortunate to be from Cork ; some Irish people not from Cork say that Corkonians suffer from a ‘ superiority complex ’; I don ’ t know what they mean by that , but I ’ m happy I live in the greatest county in Ireland . Cork City ( the real capital of Ireland ) is located on the northwestern edge of Cork Harbour – the second biggest natural harbour in the world . Known as the Rebel County , Cork has a long history of challenging authority ; Cork is Ireland ’ s largest and most southern county .
Depending on how you look at it , Cork is the starting point or the finishing point for the Wild Atlantic Way and , with nearly 1,200 km of stunning coastline shaped by the raw Atlantic Ocean , Cork has one of the longest coastlines in Ireland . Cork borders two bodies of water – the Celtic Sea to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the west .
Running east to west , three rivers ; the Bandon , the Lee , and the Blackwater – and their tributaries and valleys – dominate central Cork . According to the Environmental Protection Agency , there are 125 rivers and 32 lakes in County Cork . So it ’ s fair to say Cork is a haven for SUP of all disciplines , I will run through a few locations I have personally experienced below , but this list is by no means comprehensive . Safety first : I would advise gaining more in-depth , local knowledge for these locations and never paddle alone ; it ’ s more fun with others .
Locations
East Cork
I admit that I don ’ t have much paddleboarding experience in East Cork , but I have SUP surfed on Inch beach , which was great . The break is relatively narrow with rocks on both sides , but I had the waves to myself on a Saturday in June , which was nice .
From Youghal heading West to Ballycotton , there is roughly 40km of coastline . The visiting paddleboarder is spoilt for choice ; this could be for novices right up to coastline explorers and surfers .
Inniscarra Reservoir
Located 11km to the west of Cork City on the River Lee is Inniscarra Reservoir , formed in the 1950s when Inniscarra Dam was constructed . A designated site for water-skiing is located where the Dripsey River joins the reservoir . The reservoir is also the site of the National Rowing Centre , and the Irish National Rowing Championships and other regattas are hosted here . There are endless places for flatwater exploring . The guys at Ballyhass Adventure Group , Coachford , will be able to sort you out with gear and local advice .
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