Mullaghmore
Mullaghmore is a small, wildly scenic headland village in County Sligo, known internationally among surfers for one thing above all: Mullaghmore Head is home to some of the biggest, most powerful big-wave surfing in Europe, with waves that can reach well over 10 meters during winter Atlantic swells drawing elite tow-in surfers from around the world. Outside of big-wave season, the headland is simply a dramatic, wind-scoured place to walk, with views across to Benbulben and the Sligo coastline, and a small, pretty harbor below. The village also carries a heavier historical weight — Lord Mountbatten was assassinated by an IRA bomb on his boat just off Mullaghmore in 1979, an event that remains a notable, sobering point of local history. It's a quiet place most of the year, valued by those in the know for its coastal walking and its status as a serious surfing pilgrimage site rather than for any conventional sightseeing.
Mullaghmore FAQs
During major winter swells, yes, spectators do gather to watch from the headland, though conditions are unpredictable and it's worth checking surf forecasts and local reports before making a trip specifically for it.
The main harbor area can be fine in calm summer conditions, but the open headland surf is genuinely dangerous and intended for professional big-wave surfers only, not casual swimmers.
In 1979, he was killed by an IRA bomb planted on his boat just off the coast near Mullaghmore, one of the notable events of the Troubles-era conflict.
Yes, the headland offers striking coastal walking and views even without any interest in the surf scene, and it's an easy add-on to a Sligo coastline visit.
It's smaller and more remote-feeling than Rosses Point, with its main distinction being the headland's dramatic surf and scenery rather than a beach-town atmosphere.
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