Dates revealed as Northern Ireland to host Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series for first time ever

For the very first time, Northern Ireland will host a leg of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2024 when the global event heads to Ballycastle this July.

With the event free to the public, the Causeway Coast will be the backdrop as the world’s best cliff divers battle it out on the fourth stop of the series on Friday, July 19 and Saturday 20.

The Atlantic waters of Ballycastle will prove both a danger and a delight for those competing and comes at the mid-season point of the series.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to witness the Northern Ireland spectacle, with the competition getting underway at 4pm and finish at 7pm on both days. Attendees can watch the spectacle along the beachfront in Ballycastle with large screens positioned in several locations to ensure good visibility.

Billed as the world's oldest extreme sport, the contest runs at various venues throughout the year including Italy, Norway, Turkey, Australia, USA and Greece.

In Ballycastle 24 divers, both men and women, will have to face down fearsome winds, before diving and twisting through the air from heights of up to 27 metres, plunging into the ocean at over 85 kmph.

Each contestant is then judged on their technique, acrobatics and artistic moves with an overall champion crowned and awarded the coveted King Kahekili trophy, as well as a winner's prize fund.

In what is the 15th season of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, all eyes will be on reigning champions Rhiannan Iffland (Australia) and Constantin Popovici (Romania).

All of the 2024 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series stops will be broadcast live on Red Bull TV.

The full calendar of the 2024 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series:

Athens, Greece - May 26

Boston, USA - June 8

Polignano a Mare, Italy- June 30

Ballycastle, Northern Ireland - July 19 & 20

Oslo, Norway - August 10

Canada - August 25

Antalya, Turkey - September 29

Sydney, Australia - November 10