Battle for the Bay celebrates its 10^th birthday this May and since its inception in 2006 it has become one of the best free family weekends in the summer calendar. Dollymount Strand will play host to sun, sand, kites and surf boards as Ireland and the world’s best kitesurfers descend on the beach to showcase their spectacular skills and gravity defying moves as they skim the water surface and compete for the coveted King or Queen of the Bay crown. Growing from an audience of just 50 in 2006, Battle for the Bay now boasts an incredible 10,000 visitors over the weekend. Join in the birthday celebrations with some spectacular fireworks on the promenade on Saturday night.

Battle of the Bay is a free, entertaining weekend for all the family, young and old, where audiences are enthralled, entertained  and captivated by kitesurfers from across the world as they weave across the glittering bay. Pure Magic will give demonstrations on the beach, freestyle shows, paddle boarding and kite surfing introductions for newcomers.

There will be all the usual entertainment on dry land with live music all day, a Kids Zone with fairground rides, food village & loads of fun stuff! This year sees the introduction of the Beach Market with over 25 market traders selling everything from vintage clothes, vinyl records, Arts & Crafts, jewellery, Farmers Market Food (Jams/Cheeses/Olives & Honey etc)

SATURDAY 28^th May

10.30am – 6pm: Funfair, Food and Entertainment on the beach

10.30pm – 6pm: Kitesurfing competition – Stand Up Paddle Boarding – Land Yacht –  Beach Volley

12pm – 4pm: Kiting Introductions / Stand Up Paddle Boarding for kids

1pm: Live DJ Sets all day / Live Music Rachel McCormack / The Ukelele band / Anti-One / Roisin El Cherif / Kevyn / Wob

8pm til Late: Pure Magic 10^th Birthday Party at Bram Stoker

SUNDAY 29^th May

9.30am: Fun SUP racing on the Liffey

10.30am – 6pm: Funfair, Food and Entertainment on the beach

10.30am – 4pm: Kitesurfing competition – Stand Up Paddle Boarding – Land Yacht – Beach Volley

12pm – 4pm: Kiting Introductions / Stand Up Paddle Boarding for kids

1pm – 4.30pm: Live Bands Anti-One / Evil Empire / Silent Interlude / Dublin City Rounders / The Louisiana 6 / Late City Edition – DJs on main Stage – Pro Rider Interviews

After a long hard winter of training, the surfers will be honed, toned and raring to compete as the Battle of the Bay gets underway. This year will feature race and freestyle competitions, with riders performing daring technical tricks and feats. Boardercross is a mix of freestyling and racing which will bring a unique format of the competitors together on the starting line for a slalom style fight that is fast and furious involving jumping water obstacles. Competitors compete for championship points!

Irish champion and currently ranked 6^th in the world, Jade O’Connor will return to Battle for the Bay to compete. She has recently returned from the Canaries where she spent the winter training. She heads to Sardinia this week to prepare for the European Championships. Following Battle for the Bay Jade will be defending the British Championship in Exmouth on 12th June, a title she has held for last 2 years.

Nick Jacobsen from Denmark is a surfing superstar and performs many death defying feats with as surf board and kite! He has jumped off a crane in South Africa and also off the top of Richard Bransen’s house on Necker island. Check it out here:

So grease up your surf board, shine your shades and head to the Battle of the Bay – a free two day event now in its tenth year. Bring friends and family and enjoy the Pure Magic. Late night entertainment continues into the night at the Bram Stoker in Clontarf. More details to be announced.