Eurosurf Junior kicks off in Bundoran

_wp_page_template => 'default'
flexible_blocks_0_wysiwyg_content_block => '


Published Monday 28th September 2026


The European Junior Surfing championships (Eurosurf Junior) started Saturday (26th September) in Ireland’s Surf Capital, Bundoran.

Following the first day of competition, the 20 participating nations gathered on the town’s main street on Saturday afternoon for the traditional opening ceremony parade which was led by Bundoran RNLI with music provided by the Ballyshannon Samba Band.

The parade weaved its way to the Peak where another tradition was upheld as representatives of each team poured sand from their home beaches into a vase which will be displayed for the remainder of the competition at event HQ at Waterworld, Bundoran.


'
_flexible_blocks_0_wysiwyg_content_block => 'field_689616ad94b56'
flexible_blocks_1_small_image => '28282'
_flexible_blocks_1_small_image => 'field_689618ccaa4b9'
flexible_blocks_2_wysiwyg_content_block => 'The opening ceremony was hosted by Shane Smyth of Donegal County Council and featured speakers Dr Una May of Sport Ireland, President of the European Surfing Federation and Vice President of the International Surfing Association Jean-Luc Arassus, Joan Crawford of Fáilte Ireland, Chairperson of Irish Surfing Tim Ferguson, Cllr Michael McMahon of Donegal County Council, Chairperson of the Donegal Municipal District at Donegal County Council Cllr Jimmy Brogan with the event declared officially open by Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media Charlie McConalogue TD.'
_flexible_blocks_2_wysiwyg_content_block => 'field_689616ad94b56'
_flexible_blocks_layout_meta => array (
  'disabled' => 
  array (
  ),
  'renamed' => 
  array (
  ),
)
flexible_blocks => array (
  0 => 'wysiwyg_content_block',
  1 => 'small_image_block',
  2 => 'wysiwyg_content_block',
  3 => 'small_image_block',
  4 => 'wysiwyg_content_block',
  5 => 'large_image_block',
  6 => 'full_row_cta_button',
)
_flexible_blocks => 'field_67b4a7e16553e'
navbar_choice => 'navy'
_navbar_choice => 'field_68d53a2a6fd70'
hero_blocks_0_image => '28281'
_hero_blocks_0_image => 'field_68a5c02ddbfab'
hero_blocks_0_title => 'Eurosurf Junior kicks off in Bundoran'
_hero_blocks_0_title => 'field_68a5c02ddbfac'
_hero_blocks_layout_meta => array (
  'disabled' => 
  array (
  ),
  'renamed' => 
  array (
  ),
)
hero_blocks => array (
  0 => 'hero_image_with_title',
)
_hero_blocks => 'field_68a5949ef19bd'
ae_post_template => 'global'
site-sidebar-layout => 'default'
ast-site-content-layout => 'default'
site-content-style => 'default'
site-sidebar-style => 'default'
theme-transparent-header-meta => 'default'
_yoast_wpseo_primary_category => '190'
_yoast_wpseo_content_score => '60'
_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes => '1'
_yoast_wpseo_focuskw => 'Eurosurf Junior Bundoran'
_yoast_wpseo_metadesc => 'The European Junior Surfing championships (Eurosurf Junior) started Saturday (26th September) in Ireland’s Surf Capital, Bundoran.'
_elementor_version => '3.33.2'
_elementor_pro_version => '3.33.1'
_elementor_page_settings => array (
)
hero_blocks_0_location_tag => 'Bundoran'
_hero_blocks_0_location_tag => 'field_696e097d2201d'
hero_blocks_0_location_eircode => 'https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Bundoran'
_hero_blocks_0_location_eircode => 'field_696e09912201e'
show_default_flexible_blocks_for_api_pages => 'yes'
_wp_old_date => '2026-04-10'
_show_default_flexible_blocks_for_api_pages => 'field_69aae1ccb591d'
flexible_blocks_1_small_image_caption => 'Team Ireland pouring sand - pic Darragh Gorman'
_flexible_blocks_1_small_image_caption => 'field_6a1837500e214'
flexible_blocks_3_small_image => '28283'
_flexible_blocks_3_small_image => 'field_689618ccaa4b9'
flexible_blocks_3_small_image_caption => 'Minister of State Charlie McConalogue with representatives from Donegal County Council and Fáilte Ireland at Saturday\'s opening ceremony - pic Darragh Gorman'
_flexible_blocks_3_small_image_caption => 'field_6a1837500e214'
_wp_old_slug => 'donegal-county-council-take-a-minute-before-you-bin-it'
_yoast_wpseo_linkdex => '61'
flexible_blocks_4_wysiwyg_content_block => '


Competition continues throughout the week in Bundoran with heats and knockout rounds, with the finals expected to be held on Saturday 3rd or Sunday 4th depending on conditions.

The event is part of the Saltwater Festival which happens concurrently with Eurosurf Junior and both events are supported by Donegal County Council.

Live coverage of the event can be viewed at the Irish Surfing website

'
_flexible_blocks_4_wysiwyg_content_block => 'field_689616ad94b56'
_thumbnail_id => '28281'
_yoast_wpseo_seo_title_score => '83'
_yoast_wpseo_meta_description_score => '100'
_dp_original => '27401'
_elementor_template_type => 'wp-post'
_edit_lock => '1790593175:3'
_edit_last => '3'
flexible_blocks_5_image => '28284'
_flexible_blocks_5_image => 'field_67b5d881612c2'
flexible_blocks_5_location_tag_name => 'Bundoran - pic ESF'
_flexible_blocks_5_location_tag_name => 'field_696de466b9f36'
flexible_blocks_5_location_eircode => 'https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Bundoran'
_flexible_blocks_5_location_eircode => 'field_696de46fb9f37'
flexible_blocks_6_cta_button_text => 'Back to Latest News'
_flexible_blocks_6_cta_button_text => 'field_696b99c80078a'
flexible_blocks_6_cta_button_url => '/latest-news/'
_flexible_blocks_6_cta_button_url => 'field_696b99db0078b'
astra-migrate-meta-layouts => 'set'
_elementor_page_assets => array (
)