Northern Ireland

Thousands flock to Ballycastle for Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series

Diving action took over the north coast during the weekend

Kinbane Castle
Jonathan Paredes of Mexico dives from the 26.5 metre cliff during the second competition day of the fourth stop of the 2024 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series at Kinbane Castle, Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland on July 19, 2024. (Romina Amato/Photo: Romina Amato)
By Flávia Gouveia

Thousands flocked to Ballycastle over the weekend as the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series took over the town.

The competition is one of the biggest events in extreme sports and sees 12 men and 12 women compete at every event to earn maximum championship points.

Divers took part in a series of events on Friday July 19 and Saturday July 20. Jumping from a 27 metre tall platform, they hit speeds of 85kmph before landing in to waters of Ballycastle Harbour. They were judged by a panel on their acrobatics and artistic moves during the dive.

REDBULL
Paty Valente of Brazil dives from the 21 metre platform during the second competition day of the fourth stop of the 2024 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series at Ballycastle Harbour, Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland on July 19, 2024. (Romina Amato/Photo: Romina Amato)

Friday’s day of diving action kicked off as early as 8am at Kinbane Castle. Jutting out from the headland into the Atlantic Ocean, it was described as the “wildest setting of the season so far” by organisers.

REDBULL
Eleanor Smart of the USA dives from the 21 metre platform during the second competition day of the fourth stop of the 2024 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series at Ballycastle Harbour, Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland on July 19, 2024. (Romina Amato/Photo: Romina Amato)

The second day and final round of the competition took place on Saturday, July 20, with the action broadcast live on TG4 and Red Bull TV.

It saw the world’s best divers compete at the latest stop in the World Series.

REDBULL
Pierrick Schafer of Switzerland dives from the 26.5 metre cliff during the second competition day of the fourth stop of the 2024 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series at Kinbane Castle, Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland on July 19, 2024. (Romina Amato/Photo: Romina Amato)

Each diver rapelled around 10-12 metres down the rocky cliff face to reach the diving launch spot.

Red Bull Cliff Diving North Coast
Molly Carlson of Canada dives from the 20.5 metre cliff during the first competition day of the fourth stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series at Dunluce Castle, Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland on July 18, 2024. (Romina Amato/Photo: Romina Amato)

The UK’s Aidan Heslop and Australia’s Rhiannan Iffland topped the league tables at the end of the weekend.