Clooney More

Why this page is different

Clooney More is a headland on the north coast of Sligo Bay, and it is one of the best-known surf spots in the country. It is also a place we have chosen to describe without a precise location, and we want to be clear about why.

The headland and the dunes around it are a fragile habitat, and a good deal of the land around the break is private. The local surfing community and the landowners have asked that the place not be over-exposed, and we agree. So this page will tell you what the place is and how to enjoy it responsibly, but it will not give you a pin on a map or a turn-by-turn route to the water.

What it is

Clooney More is a low headland of grass and dune, with a long, shallow bay to the south and the open Atlantic to the north. It is a place where the sea comes in from the west and breaks over a gently shelving sand bottom, and it is that combination that makes it a surf spot of national reputation. The headland is a good place to stand and watch the sea, and the view across Sligo Bay to the mountains of Connemara is one of the best in the county.

How to enjoy it responsibly

You can see the headland from the public road, and that is the right way to see it if you are not a local. If you are a surfer or a visitor who wants to be closer, the right thing to do is to ask a local — a shop in the village, a surf shop in Sligo — rather than to drive off the road and cross land you do not own. Keep your dog on a lead, do not cross fences, do not park off-road, and leave the dunes alone.

Practical

Free to view from the road. There is no formal car park at the headland, and the land is not all public. If you are planning to surf, the responsible thing is to check with a local source first.