Photos by Tauri Tigerpaw
The West of Ireland (WOI) was founded in Second Life in February 2007 to advance Irish and Celtic culture and to raise awareness of Project Children (projectchildren.org). We are an extension of the South Texas Celtic Music Association and a 501c3 non-profit, recognized by
both Linden Labs and the US government. Each month, the West of Ireland hosts over 100 events, provides recreational opportunities, and a wonderful sense of community for SL users across the world. Thanks to the generosity of our community members and visitors, we are
able to make regular donations to Project Children averaging more than $650 US per month.
both Linden Labs and the US government. Each month, the West of Ireland hosts over 100 events, provides recreational opportunities, and a wonderful sense of community for SL users across the world. Thanks to the generosity of our community members and visitors, we are
able to make regular donations to Project Children averaging more than $650 US per month.
The history and culture of Celtic peoples, particularly the Irish, are deeply rooted in the ocean, coastal areas, and wetlands. Water flows through our religions, our means of doing business, and our daily lives. It was natural, then, that coastal areas quickly became a part of the West of Ireland. Bundoran Beach was added first, a homage to a fantastic RL surfing place in Ireland by the same name. Bundy, as it's affectionately known, is home to pipelines and fluffy waves that are both a great place to learn to surf and a good challenge to experienced surfers. It also has spots, both obvious and tucked away, to gather with friends to dance or chat.
Next to arrive at the West of Ireland was Neart, the name of which means strength in
Irish Gaelic. Neart is wild, bringing to mind the far flung bits of land along the southern and western coasts of RL Ireland. It is home to both an EPIC wave and diverse icons of Irish rural culture.
Irish Gaelic. Neart is wild, bringing to mind the far flung bits of land along the southern and western coasts of RL Ireland. It is home to both an EPIC wave and diverse icons of Irish rural culture.
The final surfing area to join the WOI family is Crab Island. Strikingly different than Bundoran or Neart, Crab features a tropical theme reminiscent of the New World. This theme provides a diversity in surfing experience at WOI and is a recognition of a major, but little known aspect of Irish history. During the period of European colonization of the Western Hemisphere, thousands of Irish were sent as indentured servants or even true slaves to work plantations across the Caribbean. The reasons for being sent ranged from various crimes to political activities. With Crab Island, we acknowledge this history but represent the linkage in a way that shows growth beyond a painful past. Crab is home to the latest waves by an up and coming designer, Leogarto Burt. Taken together, our three coastal sims provide three entirely different surfing experiences all within paddling distance of each other.
The West of Ireland hosts more than 100 events each month, ranging from concerts to storytelling to art exhibitions to surfing classes and competitions. Our schedule is at:
http://www.irelandsl.org/about/events-live-music/ . We hold our larger events on the WOI main sim adjacent to Bundoran to preserve the quality of the surfing experience. One on one surfing lessons are available daily simply by clicking an on-call button on Bundoran. In
all our activities, we try to be very supportive of new residents and strive to follow high standards for hospitality for all guests.
We offer a wide range of surfing experiences in close proximity, coupled with great events and a strong and supportive community. Best of all, underneath all of this lies a great cause: Project Children.
I could tell you about our great waves, about the historical and cultural aspects of our sims, and the wide range of events we host at WOI, but that wouldn't capture what truly makes us special. It's our community. WOI is made up of people I am proud to call friends and whom I'd love to know in RL. You visit a sim to enjoy the builds, you return to a sim for the people.
Thank you for the chance to talk about our sims and community. The West of Ireland is a labor of love for a group of more than 20 volunteers. We are dedicated to creating something wonderful and lasting in SL and to help the children of Northern Ireland in real and
tangible ways through Project Children.
The West of Ireland hosts more than 100 events each month, ranging from concerts to storytelling to art exhibitions to surfing classes and competitions. Our schedule is at:
http://www.irelandsl.org/about/events-live-music/ . We hold our larger events on the WOI main sim adjacent to Bundoran to preserve the quality of the surfing experience. One on one surfing lessons are available daily simply by clicking an on-call button on Bundoran. In
all our activities, we try to be very supportive of new residents and strive to follow high standards for hospitality for all guests.
We offer a wide range of surfing experiences in close proximity, coupled with great events and a strong and supportive community. Best of all, underneath all of this lies a great cause: Project Children.
I could tell you about our great waves, about the historical and cultural aspects of our sims, and the wide range of events we host at WOI, but that wouldn't capture what truly makes us special. It's our community. WOI is made up of people I am proud to call friends and whom I'd love to know in RL. You visit a sim to enjoy the builds, you return to a sim for the people.
Thank you for the chance to talk about our sims and community. The West of Ireland is a labor of love for a group of more than 20 volunteers. We are dedicated to creating something wonderful and lasting in SL and to help the children of Northern Ireland in real and
tangible ways through Project Children.
This has been a paid advertisement from one of SurfWatch's sponsors. If you are interested in a SurfWatch sponsorship, contact Tauri Tigerpaw or Ashleigh Dickins.
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