KITE SURFERS and sand-sculpting enthusiasts from across Europe will be Wexford-bound over the next two weekends.
An attempt to break the world record for the number of sandcastles built in an hour will be a feature of the Sand Sculpting Festival, to take place on Duncannon Beach from Friday to Sunday next.
The same beach will host the 2011 Irish Kite Surfing Championship during the annual Wexford Kite-Surfing Festival, on the following weekend. Sand Sculpting Festival organiser Cathy Dowling said professional sand sculptors from all over Europe would create “the most awesome masterpieces”.
“It is a hugely competitive festival but families will also love the array of free beach entertainment and activities on offer,” she said.
The festival will include free entertainment, such as magic and puppet shows and street theatre in the beachside village.
Ms Dowling said the good weather last year attracted more than 1,000 people.
The record-busting castle build takes place on Sunday at 2pm.
Kite-surfers will gather on the same beach for a two-day competition from August 21st to 22nd.
Niall Roche, a spokesman for the Irish Kite Surfing Association, said: “For anyone who hasn’t seen it before, it’s a water-based sport combining a kite and a surf-board. You use the kite to propel yourself. It’s a spectacular sport to view.”
Spectators can watch the kiters on the kilometre-long beach or from the village.
Organisers are expecting more than 50 kiters from around Ireland to compete for the national title.