The Community Rewriting Surf Culture for Women in Ireland
In partnership with Level Health, District is spotlighting some of the most exciting health and wellness communities across the country, groups that are redefining what it means to look after yourself in 2025 when health and connection are more important than ever. As a new kind of health insurance provider, Level Health is all about cutting through the noise: built with a human-first ethos and a focus around clarity, speed, and accessibility. Find out more here.
Surfing, like so many other sports in Ireland, is a sport that has traditionally been dominated by men, but that hasn’t stopped Melanie Kilfoyle-White encouraging female surfers into the water. Melanie is the founder of She Surfs Ireland, an all-female community that’s reshaping the surf culture along Ireland’s west coast.
Melanie, who has surfed for more than two decades, remembers what the landscape used to look like: “There were so few women in the water. It was crazy. In fact, you’d be lucky if you saw one woman every two or three weeks. I could count the number of Irish women surfing reef breaks regularly on my coastline on one hand.”
When she first picked up a board, she often had no choice but to surf alone, or push herself into lineups far beyond her level just to find people to surf with. “It was a bit of a baptism of fire really,” she admits. “Most women looked at me like I had two heads when I asked them to go surf at the places I wanted to surf.”
“I could count the number of Irish women surfing reef breaks regularly on my coastline on one hand.”
Those early experiences sparked something deeper: a commitment to creating the kind of surf space she never had. What began as weekly Sunday surf sessions through her school Rebelle Surf, the only female-owned and led surf school in Ireland, has grown into a living network for women across the country. “I started She Surfs Ireland as a WhatsApp group for all the women in Ireland who surf or have just started surfing,” she explains. “It’s a network for people to message each other and connect.”
And it’s working. Thousands of women have now passed through the space she created. Many have become independent surfers, paddling out in lineups from Sligo to Kerry. The community continues to expand, but its ethos remains rooted in connection, trust, and growth.
For many, the power of She Surfs goes beyond the waves. “Women have found the space to process huge pain and loss in their lives and also found it a space to experience great joy and just be themselves,” she says. Some women come for quiet company, others for conversation between sets. The energy shifts, but the support remains constant. “I guess it’s a fluid circle, but a very strong one that ebbs and flows throughout the year.”
“Women have found the space to process huge pain and loss in their lives”
Lifelong friendships are also being formed. “They find their people. It’s an absolutely incredible thing to witness and be a part of.”
What makes surfing such a powerful force for women? According to the founder, it’s a combination of challenge, independence, and healing. “Surfing provides a space where you can challenge yourself physically and mentally but also experience the Alchemy of the Ocean energy. It helps heal the heart.”
“It helps heal the heart.”
The all-female dynamic is not simply a reaction against the gender inequality in surfing, it’s a vital part of what makes the group thrive. “Women don’t tend to progress as well when they are in groups with lots of men as the energy tends to be more performance driven,” she explains. “It’s often the chats between waves and simple smiles and acknowledgments between women surfing that builds confidence.”
She believes women are often seeking something different from their time in the water: “Authentic connection, to try something exciting that pushes us to be stronger, learn about ourselves but also a space to breathe and reconnect with ourselves.”
It’s about balance, safety, and understanding what helps women truly thrive in the surf. Her approach to coaching reflects that same care, especially for beginners. “Accepting where you are is everything,” she says. “Arming women with surf knowledge and ocean awareness makes a huge difference to the confidence level in women. It removes barriers.”
“Arming women with surf knowledge and ocean awareness makes a huge difference”
Acknowledging fear and nervousness is part of the process too. “Working with this rather than against it is paramount,” she says. “And equally taking responsibility for our own safety is everything.”
To anyone curious about getting started, her message is simple and encouraging: “Take a surf lesson or a surf camp with us at Rebelle Surf! Our team are amazing. Learn to surf but also how to keep yourself safe in the Surf environment… Then join our WhatsApp group and find someone to share the adventure with.”
In the end, She Surfs is about more than surfing. It’s about reclaiming space, building resilience, and carving out something that’s long been missing: a surf culture that doesn’t just include women, but celebrates them.
Looking after your health doesn’t have to mean chasing times or ticking boxes, sometimes it’s just about showing up, moving your body, and finding your people. Promoting overall well-being is at the heart of what Level Health offers.
Level Health is Ireland’s newest health insurance provider. Whether you’re managing everyday health, starting a family, or simply wanting peace of mind that won’t cost the earth, explore what works for you at levelhealth.ie/district.
