Preview

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Cold-Water Eden

By: Richie Fitzgerald
Narrated by: Patrick McBrearty
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $26.13

Buy for $26.13

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

An immersive memoir about a groundbreaking surfing career, and a stunning portrait of Ireland as one of the world’s most captivating big-wave surfing destinations.

Born and raised in Bundoran, with the waves of the west coast of Ireland breaking at his doorstep, Richie Fitzgerald was moulded by his environment – from his initiation to surfing at the age of 9 in the cold Atlantic water to becoming Ireland’s first ever pro surfer and competing on a global scale.

But learning to surf in 1980s Ireland wasn’t without its challenges. With little to no equipment, Richie duct-taped Marigolds over woollen gloves to protect his hands from the freezing water and even melted Christening candles to pour on his board in place of surf wax.

Yet the west of Ireland boasts waves of size and quality to rival those in California and Hawaii, attracting surfers from all over the world who want to test their mettle, and Richie has surfed the biggest, and most dangerous, of them.

Cold-Water Eden is not just a captivating memoir about a transcendent sport: it is at its heart a coming-of-age story about one man’s pursuit of big waves and the dawn of Ireland as a singular destination on the global surf scene.

©2022 Richie Fitzgerald (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

‘It’s a brilliant story.’ – Ray D’Arcy, RTÉ

‘The book is incredible.’ – Shane Hannon, Off the Ball

‘It is a fascinating and captivating tale of growing up in the North West frontier town that was a haven for Catholics from the North, during the Troubles, and when the waves off Rougey and Tullan Strand were seen as little more than the start of an emigrant’s journey to the Big Apple and beyond.’ – Michael McHugh, Donegal Democrat

What listeners say about Cold-Water Eden

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    0
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Beautiful— thank you Richie!

As a lifelong surfer, I could not put this book down. Well written and full of honesty about the irish surfing world.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Captivating, Entertaining and Raw

As a lifelong surfer of Irish ancestry who comes from cold water I was absolutely in love with Richie’s story! If you are a surfer or grew up by the sea this is a must read! Richie’s storytelling and wit are delightfully detailed. I have known of Richie Fitzgerald ever since Step Into Liquid but sadly never understood the huge role he played in contemporary Irish surfing. I am so glad I was able to listen to this masterpiece in an authentic Irish accent and deeply appreciate how realistically every aspect of surfing is represented in this memoir. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself planning a surf trip to Ireland before you even finish this book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!