Plastic at sea will an issue at surf festival
SURFERS from around Europe will gathering in Sligo this month to tackle the problem of plastics being dumped in the oceans.
The contentious topics of beach pollution and marine waste are among the issues that will be covered in a busy weekend of talks, films and presentations that celebrate surfing, marine photography and the art and music that go along with the surf lifestyle.
Taking place from April 20-22 at The Model in Sligo, this is the sixth year of the Shore Shots Irish Surf Festival with guests and speakers arriving from all the world’s surf capitals to take part.
Award winning photographer George Karbus will deliver a talk on his time swimming with Orcas in the Arctic while South African waterman Ian Mitchinson will be talking about his time documenting the Irish surf scene and the big wave pioneers of our own west coast.
Sunday April 22nd is also Earth Day at the festival, part of a global initiative to raise awareness of environmental and green issues that are affecting surfers and communities around the planet.
To mark it, there will be a special screening of the award-winning movie A Plastic Ocean, along with a talk chaired by Irish Climate Ambassador Niamh Smyth and a panel of activists and environmentalists.
Surfer and activist Easkey Britton will be hosting a story-telling workshop on the Saturday while top film-makers while be introducing their films across the weekend as well as showcasing their latest works in surf and photography.
Saturday at the festival is a fun-filled day out of movies, talks and short films celebrating the Irish surf lifestyle that will also be previewed on the Wild Atlantic Way Instagram account over the coming weeks.
Also included in the festival is live music, a pub trail around Sligo and a book launch for pioneering Donegal-based artist Barry Britton.
Festival organiser Allan Mulrooney said: The reason we think the event has survived into its sixth year is because it brings the community together under one roof to celebrate a common love for the ocean.”