Battle for the Lake is back for a seventh year from Friday, September 29, to Sunday, October 1, and promises to be an even bigger celebration of all things Mayo. Set on the stunning Achill Island, Keel Lake will provide the perfect backdrop for a weekend of surfing, music, and fun. Nestled on the Wild Atlantic Way, combine your weekend with some of the most breathtaking scenery Ireland has to offer and head to Mayo’s best festival where family and friends gather to see some spectacular aerial displays as the riders fly through the air and of course catch some of the best Irish bands in the last festival of the summer.
National and International riders will compete for the title of Irish Champion and King or Queen of the lake. Sean Murphy Irish Pro champion and Padraig O’Doherty Irish Amateur Champion will be back to keep their 2016 titles. For the first time Achill will play host to the Irish Windsurfing Tour where top Irish windsurfers will compete in the ‘Mayo Mayhem’ wave competition.
Pure Magic is well known for bringing top class international surfers to Ireland for Battle for the Bay every May, and now Battle for the Lake will welcome world Red Bull legend and Dutch kitesurfing national champion Ruben Lenten. Lenten is a true Flying Dutchman and renowned for being the most daring and radical kite surfer in the world. Surfing fans will know Lenten for his death defying stunts, in particular during the Red Bull Ragnarok 2012, he completed a breathtaking jump from a 100 metre high cliff on the Haugastøl plateau in Norway. Lenten will be the Battle’s special guest, with demos on the lake and a DJ session.
As usual the day time schedule is completely free with an area dedicated to families with a line-up of activities and performances including bouncy castle, fun fair rides, games, music, kite workshop, and a kiddie disco. On both Saturday and Sunday DJ Will Softly will have everyone up dancing on the banks of the lake. Relax and unwind in the Healing & Relaxation Tent with local holistic therapists providing a range of treatments to festival-goers. New this year are heartfelt inspirational yoga workshops, with Jenny and Art from Back to the Heart Yoga. Friday and Saturday night will see rainbow of colours reflected in the Burning Lake, while you hear the crackle and bang of the superb firework display, followed by some hot air balloons flying in the dark skies.
