Conor Maguire Rides the Swell of a Lifetime at Mullaghmore Head
The epitaph of William Butler Yeats – “Cast a cold eye / On life, on death. / Horseman, pass by!” – speaks to a certain acceptance of the inevitable, a stoicism in the face of power. It’s a sentiment that perhaps resonates with those who regularly confront the raw, untamed power of the ocean, particularly at a notorious big-wave spot like Mullaghmore Head in Ireland.
For nearly the entire month of December, Mullaghmore Head became a magnet for surfers chasing the largest swells seen in recent years. The waves, often described as “square-lipped mutants” rolling off the reef, drew both local legends and international chargers. The peak of this swell run rivaled the benchmark set in October 2020, but with a unique character all its own. And amidst the chaos and adrenaline, one surfer consistently stood out: Bundoran’s Conor Maguire.
The Quiet Confidence of Conor Maguire
Maguire, known for his unflappable demeanor, was the only surfer to successfully ride the biggest waves on both the 2020 swell and this recent December run. His story is particularly compelling, having surfed Mullaghmore alone in 2020 under special government dispensation during the COVID-19 pandemic. This time, however, he faced a lineup teeming with 20 skis and a palpable energy. Yet, he remained focused, consistently finding himself on the biggest, most critical drops.
Having recently transitioned to part-time work as a tradesman to recover from a month immersed in the ocean, we caught up with Maguire to discuss the swells, the wave of his life, and the unique atmosphere surrounding this historic run.
Comparing the Swells: 2020 vs. December 2023
“I was really tired when that day came around,” Maguire admitted, reflecting on the biggest day of the recent swell. “It had been nonstop for a month – back-to-back big swells with favorable winds. It was mentally draining just getting hyped up to go out there again. But on the flipside, it almost made you comfortable with the routine of it.”
The rarity of such a sustained period of large swells is not lost on Maguire. “Absolutely. Generally, it breaks a couple of times a year, and you’re trying to wrap your head around it all over again. Before the big day, we had loads of paddle days and a handful of tow days. So it was nice to be there, all in mentally, for that day.”
Comparing the charts to the 2020 swell, Maguire noted, “The numbers were similar, maybe a tad smaller, but this storm was sitting a bit farther off the coast, so we expected the swell to be a bit more groomed and clean. The COVID one was huge and raw and powerful. This looked cleaner, but we expected 30-foot waves, so I was pretty jittery.”
Gary McCall / Red Bull
The Wave of a Lifetime
Maguire described the pivotal wave that defined the swell. “I was on it in the dark with my tow partner, Dylan Stott. We put the ski in at a different spot, just to avoid all the chaos at Mully harbor. We knew it was probably going to be the busiest day ski-wise, and it turned out there were around 20 tow teams. I figured they’d all be chomping at the bit to get waves, and I just kind of wanted to do my own thing and avoid that jittery mindset where everyone’s kind of going crazy with nerves and excitement in the harbor. Plus, you spend an extra 20 minutes chatting to everyone.”
“We drove before the sun had come up, and it had that magical first blue light. Not long after we were in the lineup around 8:30, this fucking huge wave came. Nobody seemed interested. Dylan pulled me in, and I just let go of the rope. It felt like a 20 ft wave when I was dropping down it, but then I bottomturned and the whole thing just dragged off the reef, grew in size and spat behind me. I pulled in and set a high line. The whole thing went really steep, and I had the craziest vision because I was so far back in it. I didn’t think I was going to be able to come back down from the high line, but luckily managed to keep my nose out of the water and rode out of it and then almost went over the handlebars coming out of the barrel. It was definitely the wave of my life.”
How did this wave compare to his monumental ride in 2020? “It was such a polar opposite experience. I was surfing alone, and it was so big that my waves broke off the back of the reef and kind of clamped at the end. It chandeliered on my head pretty much. This was more perfect. I thought I’d never get a crack at a wave like that again. And to have it stay open was incredible.”
The session didn’t end with that single wave. “I was almost done. I was so stoked, whatever happened after that was gravy. I towed Dylan into a few before a big squall came in and disrupted it for a while, and everybody went in pretty much. We were chilling in the harbor, and as soon as the wind backed off, we boosted back out. The wind dropped, nobody was out, and we scored probably 10 more waves each with no one around. It was just a nice way to top it all off, with no pressure and super relaxed, just having fun. So yeah, quite a memorable day.”
Did You Know? Mullaghmore Head’s unique bathymetry – the underwater topography of the seabed – is what creates the incredibly powerful and hollow waves that attract big wave surfers from around the globe.
Mullaghmore’s Rising Prominence
Maguire acknowledged the increased attention on Mullaghmore. “It definitely felt like Mully was in the spotlight. With a swell run like that, it has been well and truly solidified as one of the best places to go and get the wave of your life. You can either let that get into your head and get frustrated with the crowd, or just use it to your advantage and feed off the energy. And people are fairly respectful of the locals. We just sit at the top of the pack, and if we’re going for a wave, generally people won’t go. But it’s such a special place, and it’s nice to share it. I think the visiting surfers respond to that. And as we had it so good for quite a few years, where there was only a handful of us out there, I feel pretty privileged to have had that. You can’t really stop that wave of change with social media and the internet these days.”
Looking back on the swell run, Maguire reflected, “I don’t think I’ve ever had a run that good since back in 2015, when it pumped for six weeks. But I don’t think those swells had the quality and size of this past month. I’m pretty broken after it.”
Beyond his own performance, Maguire highlighted the contributions of others. “It was cool to see local kids like Callum Curtain going pretty crazy. Peter Conroy was there doing safety, but also having a crack. Luca Padua and Alo Slebir were both lovely guys, and just watching how those guys move on a tow board was mind-boggling. Clement Roseyro, too, was pretty insane with his positioning. Nic Von Rupp, as always, was a standout. Young guys paddling like Ned Hart and Robbie Goodwin were impressive. And Lowey scored a psychotic paddle wave. The thought of paddling for a wave, missing it and turning around and having my wave or Nic’s land on your head makes my blood run cold. Absolutely terrifying, but Tom has dedicated his whole life to that wave, so it was pretty cool. I’d say quite a guys had the waves of their lives that day. They were the biggest, most perfect barrels I’ve ever seen.”
What does it take to truly conquer a wave like Mullaghmore? And how does the increasing accessibility of these breaks impact the experience for those who have long called it home?
The December swell at Mullaghmore Head wasn’t just a display of athletic prowess; it was a testament to the enduring allure of the ocean’s power and the community that surrounds it. Conor Maguire’s performance, marked by both skill and humility, embodies the spirit of big wave surfing – a delicate balance of courage, respect, and a cold, clear eye on the horizon.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Mullaghmore Swell
The December 2023 swell was remarkable for its sustained duration and the size and quality of the waves, rivaling the historic swell of October 2020. It drew a large number of surfers and solidified Mullaghmore Head’s reputation as a world-class big wave destination.
Conor Maguire, a local surfer from Bundoran, consistently rode the biggest and most critical waves throughout the swell, earning recognition as the standout performer.
Maguire’s preparation involved a combination of physical fitness, mental fortitude, and extensive experience surfing Mullaghmore, including surfing alone during the 2020 swell under special circumstances.
Yeats’s epitaph reflects a stoic acceptance of life and death, a sentiment that resonates with the surfers who confront the immense power of the ocean at Mullaghmore Head.
With increasing attention and accessibility, Mullaghmore Head is likely to continue attracting big wave surfers from around the world, presenting both opportunities and challenges for the local community.
Related: One Of The Most Legendary Big Wave Days of 2025
Related: A Big Wave Irish Immersion with Nate Florence, Kai Lenny, and Friends
Share this article with fellow surf enthusiasts and join the conversation in the comments below! What are your thoughts on the future of big wave surfing and the impact of increased attention on iconic spots like Mullaghmore Head?
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