Swimming with Doogie the Dolphin on Tory Island

Labrador, Human, Dolphin....swimming together.....one word....UNREAL!!!

One of the most amazing experiences of my life was a visit to Tory Island, which is just off the northern Donegal coastline in Ireland.  I went over with my friend Shauna, and we brought our wetsuits and boards with us in case we found a little wave while we were there....a proper little surf road trip/exploration!

Well boy were we glad we brought our wetsuits! We were cycling around being all touristy on rented bikes when we spotted a Golden Labrador swimming with a Dolphin in the harbour.  I swear I thought I was dreaming and definately rubbed my eyes a few times just to make sure! The dog was swimming around in circles looking for the dolphin, who was teasing him by popping up all over the place and then disappearing again just as the dog got close.

Doogie is a wild dolphin who used to follow the passenger ferry in and out of the harbour.  Ben is the local labrador and every time Doogie comes in, he is straight in there and they swim around together for up to three hours at a time!  A couple of the local boys had been swimming with Doogie before, and while we were there a couple of american scientists were swimming with him and studying his behaviour.  You can imagine how delighted they were when Shauna and I jumped in for a couple of hours like mad eejits full of excitement!!  

The most memorable part of my swim with Doogie was watching him from under the water.  He would swim up towards the surface, tap the Bens' feet with his nose, dart off and then come back to do it all over again.  Ben the labrador was going mad with excitement, swimming in circles looking for Doogie and basically Doogie was taking the piss out of him....I laughed and laughed underwater, blowing bubbles until I ran out of breath and had to reluctantly surface!

Here are a couple of the photos we managed to snap on my waterproof digital camera.  I honestly still can't believe that this actually happened, it was a once in a life time and very random experience!  What made it even better was that we were some of the first people to swim with Doogie.  The week after, the national media got a hold of the story and the special secret was out!  I'm not even sure he comes into the harbour any more.

Doogie the Dolphin chilling on the surface right beside us!

Me getting up close and personal...amazing!

Shauna and Doogie getting up close and personal. Honestly my favourite picture that I have ever taken!

Hello there!

Doogie teasing Ben

Home time after an amazing trip....we got some funny looks from the locals carrying our surfboards!

Some recent travels to start the Blogging!

WHOA!! So I have entered into the World of Blogging!! So...where do I start....hmmm....I know...with a wee photo/video show of some recent surfing experiences....get up to date and all that, then take the whole blogging thing from there!!!

Here goes......  (oh yeah, this will involve a fair bit of scrolling....i don't know how to get rid of the gaps...newbie to this and all that!).....

Surfing has given me so many wonderful opportunities and experiences over the years. I have been on some amazing adventures, surfed some fantastic waves and met some really special people along the way. All of these experiences have certainly enriched my life and have helped to shape the person that I am today. They have also been FUN FUN FUN!!!


When I finished University in JUNE 2007 I literally jumped straight onto a dream boat trip in the Mentawaiis. Other girls on the trip included Steph Gilmore, Sally Fitzgibbons, Tyler Wright and Karlee Mackie. It was such a buzz to go from putting in 12 hour days of study in a dull library in Ireland to surfing all day every day with some of the best surfers in the World in some of the best waves in the World!! What a trip......

Steph, Me and Karlee being silly

The Mangalui-our home for 10 days

Beats being in the library!

Steph, Kaori, Karlee, Sally, Kirra, Tyler, Me

In JUNE/JULY 2009 I travelled to Indonesia with Beth Mason. We did a 10 day trip in the Telo Islands which is just north of the Mentawaii chain with photographer Simon Williams. 

Telo Islands-Mishos

Bali-Uluwatu

Then we headed to Bali for a 10 day free surfing trip and to just hang out for a bit on that side of the world! :)

A little video from some days in Bali......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QPymuvTNpA




NOVEMBER 2009 marked my first visit to Hawaii. I travelled over for three weeks of training and coaching by Joel Gray of Surf Solutions and to shoot photographs with Alex Williams. I was the only girl amongst the group of surfers and it was great to push myself hard beside chargers Ronan Oertzen, Damien Conway, Iarom Madden and James Taylor. I especially loved getting to try out a 6'9 semi-gun board, shaped for me by Jeff Bushman, at big Sunset! Another highlight of this trip was sampling an American style Halloween. Wow those guys love it over there, it was mental!!  

Me, Ronan, Iarom, Damien and James

Rockies Right 

Sunset drop, on my new 6'9

Rockies Left off the top

2010 SO FAR....

Well it has been a pretty special year for travels so far. I bought a campervan in April and drove it from Ireland to Lisbon in Portugal, up to Hossegor in France and then home again.  Joining me on this road trip was my good friend Joanne Dennison and we had a ball travelling, surfing and competing our way through Europe.

Renee the Renault!

Sunset in Portugal after a fun day surfing

Killing time on the ferry

Road Trip!

In JUNE I travelled to Sri Lanka for a UK Pro Surf Tour invitational 'Champion of Champions' event. It was a blast and a wonderful place to visit. The other girls on the trip Beth Mason, Gwen Spurlock, Sarah Bentley, Joanne Dennison, Lucy Campbell, Raine Jackson, Celine Gehret, Kerry Powell, Lucia Griggi and Zoey Cotton were such a cool bunch to hang out with and a lot of fun was had!

Meeting some amazing local kids in their village

The sunsets in Sri Lanka were unreal!

The contest site at Aragum Bay

Beth, Zoey, Celine, Gwen, Me, Kerry, Jo, Sarah

Straight after Sri Lanka, in JULY 2010 I travelled to the Maldives with Beth Mason and Gwen Spurlock. Here, we met up with a really cool group of girls for 10 days on a boat shooting with Simon Williams. 

Hannah, Corrine, Me, Laura, Gwen

The boat was called 'Nautilus One'.....but on somedays we renamed it the 'Naughty One' and on other days the 'Nauseous One'! We didn't get the best weather or waves but we made the most of it and had a great time all the same.

The girls with Captain Louis

Nautilus One

Gabi, Gwen, Corrine, Laura, Hannah, Beth with me in front


AND THE RIDE CONTINUES.....LIFE IS GOOOOOD!