It may not be California, but with the surf up and the promise of good music Co Clare will be the next best thing this weekend when about 5,000 surfers are expected to attend the first ever Cois Fharraige Surf and Music Festival.
Some 48 top surfers from Ireland Australia, South Africa and the US will compete at Spanish Point beach on Saturday and Sunday for the festival's Sony Ericsson short-board competition.
Cois Fharraige surf director Aaron Gallagher said the competitors will include Irish senior champion John McCarthy and Irish women's champion Easkey Britton, as well as some of the world's top surfers including Ben Hanna from Australia.
"Spanish Point beach is awesome - there is an amazing sandbank on mid to full tide and it really packs a punch. It has picked up so much swell all summer and with the September sessions on the way, the short-board competition should be something special."
Meanwhile, the Cois Fharraige music festival kicks off tonight in nearby Kilkee when 5,000 fans are expected to pack a huge marquee to catch New York's finest, the Fun Lovin' Criminals, as well as Irish acts the Blizzards, Majella Murphy and Róisín Murphy.
A full day of music tomorrow sees concerts - in the specially installed tent - by Paddy Casey, Ocean Colour Scene, Republic of Loose, Coventry band The Enemy, Dublin band The Kinetiks and Liverpool indie scene favourites 28 Costumers.
The music continues on Sunday when young Scottish singer songwriter Amy MacDonald joins the already impressive line-up which includes Delorentos, a Dublin four-piece, singer songwriter Tom Baxter, Buffalo Souljah and Newtown Faulkner.
Cois Fharraige is not operating an official campsite, but intending travellers are advised to check out camping and accommodation suggestions, as well as information on line-ups, surf event times and qualification information at www.coisfharraige.com
