Northern Ireland

Martin McNeely – mmcneely@utvinternet.com

From Ballymena, County Antrim, I’ve been surfing ever since I was forced to retire from playing rugby a few years back. I’m married with two fantastic kids, one of whom, a grom in training at nearly 8 years old. In my working life I am pastor of a challenging but growing community Church in the heart of the estate where I also live. In the past I have had experience working in media in Westminster and Belfast. Possibly a bit biased in this, but I (and a lot of locals) think the North Irish coast is one of the most beautiful parts of the British Isles to surf in, with County Donegal to our left and the Isles of Scotland on the horizon. It’s also one of the most polluted at times, due to lack of infrastructural investment. Working with local surf clubs, the media and representatives, I hope SAS can keep the pressure on for cleaner water.