Aileen’s Wave
The Cliffs of Moher stands proudly at the centre of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. This ancient site was forged by nature over 320 million years ago and its first sighting by man stretches back almost 2,000 years.
A visit to the Cliffs will stay etched in your memory forever. On a clear day, the views are breath-taking, with the Arran Islands floating on the misty waters of Galway Bay ahead of you and for those with a keen eye, the may even witness the Dingle Peninsula and The Blasket Islands in the distance. It is no wonder that this ancient spot has inspired Poets, musicians and writers for generations. The folklore that surrounds the Cliffs of Moher is well documented and interestingly the name given to one of the world’s largest waves which forms just below the Cliffs was inspired by the Celtic masters of magic, the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Aileen’s Wave rests peacefully beneath the Cliffs of Moher waiting for mother nature and the wild Atlantic Ocean to ignite her mighty power as she rises more that 3km from shore and raises her majestic head to heights of over 15 meters.
The wave gets its name from the Irish word “Aill Na Searrach” which translated means “Leap of the Foals” and it is as intimidating a sight as you will ever see. It is a stunning natural phenomenon that puts even the most experienced ocean gladiators in the world to the test. Surfers from all over the planet who make the pilgrimage to this ancient site are confronted with this perfect wave at the base of the 700-foot-high cliffs, surrounded by nature in its purest form as they wait for the waves to hit the reef at high speed from deep water. When the wave achieves its maximum height, the steepness of the face gives surfers the board speed they require to propel themselves through the waves giant tunnel like vortex, allowing them to ride in the barrel of one of the largest waves on earth. This is a feat that should not be attempted by anyone other than the most experienced surfers. Many have attempted it. Few have achieved it. All are humbled by her beauty.
The origan of this wave is believed to originate in Irish folklore and reaches back to a time when the Celtic masters of magic, the Tuatha Dé Danann ruled Ireland. Angered by the arrival of Christianity and the loss of their magical rituals, the Tuatha manifested themselves into magnificent white horses and cocooned themselves in the caves below the Cliffs of Moher for hundreds of years. One day, seven white foals emerged from the dark caves and frightened by the blinding sunlight, they bolted galloping furiously along the Cliffs edge. They met their fate at the spot we now know as “the leap of the Foals”. Many believe that the spirit of these mythological horses has been harnessed and now reside within Aileen’s Wave.
The story and the setting for Aileen’s wave could not be more dramatic and whether you are a surfer or just a casual visitor the Cliffs of Moher, be sure to look out into the Wild Atlantic Ocean and if you are lucky, you just might witness one of the most spectacular natural phenomenon’s on earth!