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The waves are believed to have reached record highs of between 10 and 15 meters.
Surfers at Mullaghmore, Co Sligo, couldn’t resist the tug of the tide and used jet skis to ride out on the gigantic waves.
This technique, known as trailer surfing, allows surfers to catch waves that are moving faster than is traditionally possible when paddling by hand.
The surfers arrived at 7 a.m. and rode the waves until 11 a.m. Wednesday, drawing crowds of local spectators.
Hundreds turned out to witness the dramatic spectacle, but most remained in their cars on top of the cliff, observing the rules of social distancing.
The coast guard helicopter hovered overhead, while three jet skis with paramedics acted as security guards for the intrepid surfers.
Met Éireann forecaster Gavin Gallagher said the “exceptionally high” waves were due to a perfect storm of high winds, swell and high tides.
He said: “They are exceptionally high waves and most of it is the height of the swell. The three things that are coming together: the swell is technically very high, about eight meters or so.
“You have the waves of the wind on top of that which is another couple of meters.
“Then you also have spring tides. The full moon is at its peak on November 2, perhaps, so we’re getting pretty close to the spring tides.
“So we are entering a period where there will be very high tide and high waves.
“So we have very strong winds from the west / southwest today and indeed tomorrow as well. Those three things, the wind, the waves and the tide have been high. “
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