Tullan Strand - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic roars to life during these months, with frequent low-pressure systems tracking across the Atlantic and firing powerful swell trains towards the Irish coast. Tullan Strand, with its West-North-West exposure, is perfectly positioned to capture the dominant W to WNW groundswells that dominate this period. Average wave heights range from 1.5m to 1.8m, with periods consistently in the 11-12 second range, often pushing into the long-period powerful territory. The chance of offshore winds from the E to SE quadrant is at its seasonal peak, especially during high-pressure ridging, making for clean, glassy conditions at times. This is the prime window for solid, pumping surf at Tullan.

Fair Surf Season (April - May & September)

Transitional months where the intensity of the winter storms begins to wane, but there’s still plenty of action. April sees average heights drop to 1.1m, but the period remains respectable at 10.7s, offering fun-sized waves. May is smaller at 0.9m and shorter period, but lighter winds and more sunshine can make it good for longboard sessions. September marks the return of autumn swells with heights averaging 1.1m and periods back up to 10.2s, as the first major storms of the season develop. The window for clean conditions can be narrow, but when the wind aligns from the east, the quality can be exceptional.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

Summer settles in, and the North Atlantic calms down significantly. Average swell heights hover around 0.8-0.9m with periods dropping to 8.5-8.9s – typically windswell or weak groundswell. The dominant swell direction remains W to WNW, but the energy is lacking. More critically, the wind regime shifts, with onshore westerlies becoming more frequent, ruining the wave quality. Offshore winds from the E to SE are less common (ideal wind percentages drop to 16-19%). This is the least reliable period for quality surf at Tullan Strand, suited mainly for small-wave gear or longboards on the rare clean day.

January: Deep Winter Power

The North Atlantic is in full fury during January, and Tullan Strand reaps the rewards. Average swell height sits at a hefty 1.8m with a long period of 12.6s, indicating a high frequency of powerful groundswells. Swell direction is heavily weighted towards W (23.3%) and WNW (26.0%) – the sweet spot for this WNW-facing beach. These swells often stack up nicely, producing solid, pumping waves in the 1.5-2.5m range. The wind, however, is the wildcard. While ideal offshore conditions (from E to SE) occur only about 29% of the time, the dominant wind directions are S through W, which can be onshore or cross-onshore. Look for high-pressure systems to the north to deliver crisp easterly winds, grooming those long-period swells into clean, reeling lines.