A charity in Co Donegal is helping people who are living with disability or extra needs to enjoy the thrill of surfing.
Chief Executive of Liquid Therapy Ireland Tom Losey said the idea is to bring the experience of the sea to people who struggle to participate or cannot participate in a mainstream opportunity and require a higher level of support and understanding.
Mr Losey said a seated surfboard, which is 3,66m long and 1m wide, is specially made for people who have physical needs or a range of complex issues that require assistance, for example if they cannot lie down on their body.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said: "This seated board lets a small team of volunteers and staff take an individual out into the ocean in comfort.
"They're not instructing, but they are in a bucket seat that you would get in a rally car that's specially designed and made of carbon fibre then on an appropriate board that lets them then enjoy the thrill of being in the ocean, in the waves, or just being at the beach and bringing that family into that environment and removing the stress and the barriers to participation."
In relation to safety concerns, he said conditions are always assessed and an appropriate sized team supports the person.
He said: "Risky play is also part of life, like getting wet, getting splashed, jumping in the waves is part of it too.
"Obviously we mitigate those risks and make sure the experience meets the needs of the individual, and that it's just a really fun day out for everybody."
'It puts a smile on everybody's face'
Enda McCormack, whose brother Conor has used the surfboard, said his brother was never so happy as he was while using the surfboard.
Speaking on the same programme, he said: "I was in the water with Conor and it was just an experience that you just never thought that was ever going to happen.
"And to be honest, I have actually never seen Conor as happy in all my life."
He added that having the facility in Donegal is "just second to none and we're really looking forward to getting back to it next year".
Mr McCormack said he hopes this is just the start of these types of activities.
He said: "Hopefully now that this will kind of put a stepping stone in place. Hopefully we'll get a couple more of them throughout the country and other people like Conor will be able to reap these rewards now and these benefits of having this funding coming into Ireland and getting such activities for these people to use.
"Because it just it puts a smile on our face and it puts a smile on everybody's face and it's just great to see."
