Irish Times Article on Windsurfing in
Castlegregory
Irish Times
Tuesday, October 17,
2000
Money is blowing
in the Kerry wind
By Anne Lucey
Cooler than Hawaii, but just as spectacular, was the general consensus last week
among the 80 world-class surfers in Kerry for the first world championship Wave
Grand Prix to be held in Ireland.
The spectacular wave sailing competition is just one leg of a world tour
organised by the Professional Windsurfers Association, whose normal ports of
call are Hawaii, Fiji, Western Australia and the Canaries.
Up to four beaches - depending on the whim of the wind and which way it moved
- were in use around the Dingle Peninsula.
Mr Dermot Ahern, Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs and a
windsurfing enthusiast, performed the official opening in the village of
Castlegregory, and watched his wishes come true. The Dingle peninsula is now set
to become a regular stop on the world PWA tour.
Mr Ahern arrived with a grant of £127,000 from the Sports Tourism Fund. The
region's earnings were estimated conservatively at £250,000 from the low
pressure around Castlegregory over the week.
Winds of at least force four were required, said Mr Oisín van Gelderen, the
Irish windsurfing champion, at the start of the event. The surfers' prayers were
heard.
Winds blew mightily all week with force seven gales recorded in the closing
days, to the delight of competitors.
On the logistics front, Kerry County Council provided back-up in closing
roads, opening beaches and looking after litter.
The village of Castlegregory got behind the championships. Competitors were
as charmed by the local hospitality as by the power of the wind, with music,
sandwiches and beer dished up at receptions.
Much as in skiing, socialising and a hectic nightlife are part of the
windsurfing round. This alone makes these competitions ideal for tourism.
"If the event was in a larger area it would not have got into the psyche
of the people the way this did," said Mr Declan Murphy, tourism officer for
south Kerry.
The grand prix gives the industry "a new wing to its brochures" and
a great end-of-season boost, he explained.
"We are on the map now for windsurfing fans. And at the very least,
these championships have given us all a new perspective on the wind," said
Mr Murphy.
Kerry Cottages
3 Royal Terrace West, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
Phone (01) 284 4000 Fax (01) 284 4333
International calls:
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