Sligo professional surfer Gearoid McDaid's invitational event set to launch a new benchmark in youth surfing
'Bringing my first invitational in conjunction with Irish Surfing to Strandhill means a lot to me — it's where I grew up surfing and where my journey began. This event is all about giving the next generation of Irish surfers a real shot at something bigger, and showcasing the incredible talent we have right here at home,' said Gearóid.
This one-day junior surf competition will take place within a seven-day waiting period to allow for optimal conditions. The event features 32 junior competitors, 16 boys and 16 girls, selected by Gearóid McDaid.
Two boys and two girls will earn Wild Card entries to the WSL Wild Atlantic Way Junior Pro, held during the Saltwater Festival in Bundoran. Winners will also receive prize packs courtesy of Rip Curl, Bell Surf, and Lost Shore. Runners-up may be considered as alternate wild card selections.
Gavin McCrea,Technical Director, Irish Surfing said: 'Delighted to be involved in the Gearoid McDaid invitational. He has come up through the Irish Surfing system. This event represents a major step forward for competitive junior surfing in Ireland, and having it led by one of our most accomplished athletes makes it even more meaningful. It's the kind of initiative that inspires young surfers and strengthens the future of Irish surfing.'
Saltwater Festival Team said: 'We're thrilled to host the inaugural Gearóid McDaid Invitational as part of Saltwater Festival. This partnership is a perfect match — celebrating Irish surf culture, youth talent, and the energy that defines our coastline.
'Gearóid's vision aligns perfectly with our mission to elevate Irish sport and community through world-class
events alongside Irish Surfing '
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
29 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Rijeka boss Dalovic insists his side have a battle on their hands against Shels
Rijeka coach Radomir Dalovic is hoping the return of local hero Toni Fruk can save his job as the fall out from their European campaign threatens to engulf the Croatian double-winners. Fruk has been recently drafted into the national squad, a natural no. 10, he is expected to step straight into Luca Modric's position - if the 39-year-old Modric ever retires! "Toni is now in the national team of Croatia and he can go a long way, everything depends of him," says Dalovic of 24-year-old Fruk's potential. READ MORE: This is the Gavin Bazunu save that even had Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson gushing with praise READ MORE: Shels boss Joey O'Brien tells RTE 'doesn't bother me' as national broadcaster snubs big Uefa night "His play is good, not the exact same as Luca's in style, but he has the potential for the future, to be the future of Croatia." Rijeka haven't been having a good week, losing to Shelbourne at home, having taken the lead 1-0, and picking a red card in a league draw at Osijek on Sunday. It would have been nice for the Irish side had that red card, shown to Slovenian international midfielder Dejan Petrovic close to full-time, led to his being unavailable for this tie. But suspensions only apply to the competition they occur in, so Petrovic will join Fruk and 23-year-old Niko Jankovic who emerged as a €5.6m target for Fenerbache this week in the middle of the park. A trio sure to be the Croatian champions' strongest unit and likely to make for hard work for JJ Lunney and Kerr McInroy in the Shels engine room. Coach Dalovic, for sure, is a remarkable character and could surely write the book about playing games in foreign countries. A Montenegrin who played for his country 26 times, he had two spells as a player with Rijeka as part of a career that spanned 17 different clubs and a vast geographical spread. He initially played top-flight Yugoslavia as well as having stints in Germany (with Arminia Bielefeld in the Bundesliga), China, Thailand, Montenegro, Iran, Croatia, Romania and Turkey. He was also linked with Celtic circa 2009 while a deal with Wigan Athletic who were in the Championship at the time, fell through, a step short. What does he make of Shelbourne, of how his first encounter with Irish football went? "Shelbourne are a good team and they played a good game against us so they didn't surprise us in that way. "We had seen they had played good games against Qarabag, that they have this kind of fight, they fight for every ball, they are strong, they run good, a lot, and they have played 27 games in their championship - we have only started to play rounds in our league. "It's good football, and they have good players, but I hope we will be better than we were in the game in Rijeka." Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
Irish Examiner
29 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Shels at high point of new era aiming to grip the bat lightly
After ripping up the script last week, Shelbourne still need to be word-perfect to write a historic chapter. A club with a trove of memories began this latest journey just under four years ago. Damien Duff assumed control of the team promoted back to the Premier Division, took a scalpel to the squad and it's been incremental progress since. FAI Cup runners-up in 2022, European qualifiers in 2023, top-flight title winners in 2024. Joey O'Brien flanked Duff along the odyssey but now takes charge for arguably the high point of this current run. Cynics were swift to declare the end of this era when the Irish legend walked out of his job on a sunny June morning eight weeks ago at the AUL complex. O'Brien did what has always come naturally by carrying on regardless. Initially as caretaker, Duff's assistant was soon exalted with permanent manager status. Tuesday night against Rijeka will be his 12th game at the helm. Only the swashbuckling Qarabag inflicted defeat on a team he picked and his side confront a schedule capable of turbocharging their season. Last week's 2-1 win in Croatia was a result few saw coming, offering a platform to secure a Europa League playoff spot at home without even having to win over 90 minutes. O'Brien sticking to the line that the Reds remain underdogs despite their lead gains credence when the respective squad values are contrasted. Croatian football, club and international, is streets ahead of Ireland. The only comparison when they're cited as the exemplar for Ireland to replicate is population. Defeat won't be considered a disaster for O'Brien either. By overcoming Linfield in the opening round of the Champions League last month, three lives at reaching the league phase of European competition were granted. This is the second. Failure to maximise their midway advantage would only result in the final parachute being activated – a rematch with either Linfield or Vikingur Gøta for a spot in the Conference League. The Faroese side lead 2-1 heading into Thursday's second leg in Belfast. Irrespective of how this second leg concludes, potentially after extra-time and penalties, Shels will have a playoff next week to determine their league phase route. Prize-money of €3.8m is the crock of gold awaiting. Beyond the European adventure, Shels are well-positioned heading into the final series of nine matches, just four points off second place. There's an FAI Cup last-16 clash at St Patrick's Athletic on Sunday week as well. 'It's not really thinking about what's at stake and what it can do for the club, financial-wise,' reasoned former Ireland defender O'Brien. 'If you start thinking like that, you start gripping the bat too tight. 'It's one of my favourite sayings - you start wondering 'oh, if this happens, we can do this'. 'I just don't think you can play like that. You must have an understanding of what's got you here. It's a big occasion but make sure you're ready to play well and don't have a regret of feeling that I was thinking of what could have been. 'I've told the players to realise these opportunities don't come around too often. You must put your best foot forward and make sure you have no regrets.' Not many in the Shels squad have passed this watershed but centre-back Paddy Barrett has fond memories of reaching the group stage with Dundalk in 2016. A second-leg 3-0 win over BATE Borisov was the glamorous side of a tricky tie. 'We got pumped in the first leg over there, the best 1-0 loss I was ever involved in,' he said, laughing at returning from Belarus relieved. 'There was tension but also confidence because we had a brilliant team. 'This is a big game too with a lot at stake. We know the quality of opposition Rijeka are having got a feel of them over them. Yet we just need to take our own game to them. 'We've worked on some things this week and will have a right crack off them.' Whereas Shels will be missing Seán Boyd from sustaining a calf injury last Wednesday, Rijeka have Toni Fruk returning from suspension. Their €4m recruit from Fiorentina has been linked with a move to RB Leipzig but his club will want a tie-changing impact from their star man first to avoid an embarrassing Europa exit. Europa League, third round, second leg Shelbourne v HNK Rijeka Tolka Park - Tuesday, 7.45pm.
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Irish dreams of a semi-final dealt blow as French players are left in tears after first EuroHockey win in 22 years
French players were left in tears after their first EuroHockey win in 22 years as Ireland wasted 13 penalty corner chances, twice hit the post and lost their seven-game unbeaten record to Les Bleus. Mathilde Duffrene's second-half penalty corner proved the difference, while goalkeeper Lucie Ehrmann produced a superb display to thwart Ireland's below-par attackers. Defeat leaves hopes of progression resting on beating Germany Wednesday night by a two-goal cushion. Olympic, world and defending European champions Netherlands beat hosts Germany 5-1 on Monday evening. 'We are gutted,' said Katie Mullan. 'We had a lot of opportunities, the French goalkeeper was phenomenal, but we should take a hard look at ourselves in attack as we expect more from ourselves and we are able to produce more quality in the final third.' An unmarked Mullan hit the post and then blazed over in the first quarter to set the tone for Ireland's host of squandered chances. They then wasted five penalty corner chances in a row. The post was rattled either side of post runner Emma van der Zanden charging down the castle hits. Lizzy Murphy made a sprawling second-half body save from Van Der Zanden. It paved the way for upfield Irish circle penetration but increasing desperation to find the net as more corner set-pieces went begging. With 11 minutes left, Ireland went down to 10 after a green card for Michelle Carey. And France made it count through Duffrene's rising penalty corner flick. Mullan's late yellow card for physical intent summed up their afternoon. Coach Gareth Grundie said: 'We were impatient with the ball, but we had enough opportunities to win it comfortably. We will have to take that one on the chin.'
