Liquid Therapy announce line-up for BlueSurfest
Liquid Therapy, an award-winning Irish Surf Therapy charity, announces the line-up for BLUESURFEST Ireland. The inclusive surf festival will run from the 22nd to the 24th of September in County Donegal and is the first of its kind in Ireland.
BLUESURFEST is a 3-day celebration of inclusion in sport and surf therapy and has an action packed line up, which includes events such as live music, film premieres, book signings, inclusive and adaptive surfing events and an educational seminar. The events will raise awareness of the benefits of surf therapy for people’s physical and emotional well-being and contribute to breaking down barriers to inclusion in sport and society through surfing in Ireland.
The festival is one of 6 inclusive sporting events aiming to taking place in coastal surfing communities across Europe. The festivals will engage over 900 participants from Spain, France, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, and Italy and will bring together families, practitioners, volunteers and industry experts during September and October 2023.
“Bluesurfest encourages coastal communities across Europe to increase accessibility, promote sustainability, advance inclusion in sports, and share some “aloha spirit” to benefit from the healing power of Mother Ocean herself.” Javier Cantera, European Projects Manager, Regional Society of Culture and Sport, Cantabria, Spain.
“Some of the highlights of the weekend include talks from speakers such as Dr. Easkey Britton, local author and one of the World’s leading researchers in Blue Health; a talk from Mark Pollock, the well-known motivational speaker, explorer and the first blind person to race to the South Pole; the premiere of the Film ‘Shaper Series’ from Ireland’s top Competitive Surfer, Gearóid McDaid as well as Liquid Therapy’s much loved youth focused annual inclusive surfing event, the ‘Liquid Therapy OPEN’. The line-up is action packed, we’re really stoked to be hosting this exciting event” – Tom Losey, Founder and CEO Liquid Therapy, Ireland.
Key activities over the BLUESURFEST weekend in Donegal:
NB: please note all events are ticketed via eventbrite, tickets must be obtained prior to attending ay events.
- ‘The Power of Blue’: an educational Blue Health seminar, which aims to raise awareness of the benefits of Surf Therapy for health and wellbeing, includes a wide range of speakers including: Maria Walsh MEP, Dr. Easkey Britton, Dr. Jamie Marshall, Liquid Therapy’s panel of experts and Mark Pollock, the well-known explorer and entrepreneur. ‘The Power of Blue’ Seminar will be held in the Sandhouse Hotel, Co. Donegal from 9:30 to 2pm on the 23rd of September 2023.
- Book Reading & Signing: Easkey Britton, Donegal based pioneer big wave surfer, marine social scientist and author of Ebb & Flow, will be reading an extract from her latest book and signing copies afterwards at 2pm at the Sandhouse Hotel Co. Donegal, on the 23rd of September 2023.
- Film Launch: Over the weekend the National Premiere of ‘Shaper Series’ with Gearóid McDaid & Tides Surf Magazine will be held in the Eclipse Cinema Bundoran, Co. Donegal, on the 23rd of September at 8pm. Liquid Therapy OPEN (24th of September): a one-day inclusive surfing event for the whole family. Around 100 young people will participate in a fully inclusive surfing event on Rossnowlagh beach, with support from Liquid Therapy’s team of volunteers. The Liquid Therapy OPEN will be held on Rossnowlagh Beach on the 24th of September 2023.
- Music: to round off the weekend two live music acts will showcase in Bundoran. Tree House Live presents T. D. Narrative plus special guests at The Kicking Donkey, Bundoran on Saturday the 23rd of September at 9:30pm and a traditional music session in the Bridge Bar on Sunday the 24th of September at 9pm.
All events must be pre-booked via Eventbrite.
Blue Surf Festivals as well as promoting inclusion, sustainability, and surf culture, aims to further develop and promote the work of the INCLUSEA Network on utilising sharing the benefits of the common European adaptive surf methodologies developed during the INCLUSEA project. BLUESURFEST: https://inclusea.eu/bluesurfest/
BLUESURFEST is a European project which is co-financed by the Erasmus + Sport Programme. Further information on the website: https://www.liquidtherapy.ie/bluesurfest/