Established in 2002 by Former Irish Surfing Champion John McCarthy, Lahinch Surf School was the first of it's kind in Ireland and is the only Irish Surfing Association recognised Surf School in County Clare, Galway and Limerick areas

Founded around Irish surfing Association guidelines, we are the only surf school using completely qualified Irish Surfing Association Qualified Instructors and IWS/RLSI lifesaving qualifications. All our instructors are expert surfers and most importantly, patient and attentive surf instructors.

Our founder, John McCarthy has been surfing since the age of 10 and started surfing for the Irish Surf Team at the age of 13 and holds four national titles. John has surfed competitively for Ireland, all over the world, at European and World Surfing Championships and has travelled to Hawaii, Australia, Africa, Central America and Asia to name but a few. Having spent 5 years living and working in Japan after qualifying with a Degree in Science from W.I.T., John decided to retire his office skills for the surf on the west coast.

In the first year in operation, John and local surfer Saul Harvey started the first 5 day kids camp and weekend surf courses. Since that first year many instructors have joined Lahinch Surf School. Entirely made up of local Co. Clare and foreign surfers living in county Clare, Lahinch Surf School is the surf school run by real surfers.

At Lahinch Surf School we aim to patiently take you through the complete surf experience. You will learn about water safety, ocean awareness and wave conditions.


'John bringing his niece and nephew, Anna and
Conor John from Australia, for a surf in Tramore