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Open Water Swimming News from Ireland
The Nationwide team catch up with Henry O’Donnell and his support vessel Tor Dearg
A Donegal swimmer’s epic challenge to circumnavigate the island of Ireland will feature on RTÉ Nationwide tonight, Wednesday 6 January. As reported in October on Afloat.ie, Henry O’Donnell has been donning his fins and taking to the water — as…
Top safety tips have been issued by the Coast Guard and the RNLI for open water swimming
The RNLI and the Coast Guard are appealing to the public to exercise caution when participating in any activity on and near the water during the Christmas and New Year period and at all times to be mindful of the…
The Howth RNLI "DIP & DONATE" poster
Instead of Christmas swims, Howth RNLI fundraisers in County Dublin are asking Howth peninsula swimmers to "DIP & DONATE" to the RNLI anytime between December 19th and Jan 7th. Howth RNLI has posters with a printed QR code (see above)…
Hawk Cliff at Killiney where the swimmer got into difficulty
A swimmer has died after getting into difficulty as Hawk Cliff in Dalkey in Killney Bay yesterday. The accident happened after the Irish Coast Guard based in Dun Laoghaire Harbour received a call about a swimmer in difficulty.   Emergency services…
Skerries RNLI en route to Donabate on Saturday afternoon
Skerries RNLI’s volunteer crew were tasked on Saturday afternoon (28 November) after a call to emergency services reported concerns over a group of sea swimmers off Donabate. The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis Simson was launched shortly before 3pm to…
Open water swimmer Paddy McNamara
Experienced open water swimmer Paddy McNamara has appealed to people to be mindful of sea safety after he rescued a young man from Galway Bay yesterday. McNamara pulled the man in his early twenties from the water after he got…
Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill, Presenter of Rugbaí BEO on TG4, launched the Christmas event #SwimWhereYouAre for COPE Galway, which will take place over 10 days from 21-30 December, at your nearest beach, wherever you are in the world.
"Swim where you are" is the message from a Galway charity which normally relies on Christmas Day sea swims for fundraising. Cope Galway is asking people both at home and abroad to register online and swim - or sponsor a…
The 'Finman' is progressing south down the Irish Sea towards Dublin
Donegal man Henry O’Donnell has successfully completed the first phase of his quest to be the first person in the world to fin swim around a country. The 'Finman' is progressing south down the Irish Sea towards Dublin. Henry has…
From left to right Henry O'Donnell, swimmer Jill Steele from Helen's Bay watch, Kevin Baird Harbour Master and William Duggan, Skipper of the Tor Dearb
There are many variations to the sport of swimming. But, long-distance swimming is on another level, and what Donegal man Henry O'Donnell is attempting at the moment he calls an Expedition. He will try to swim around the Island of…
The scene at Skippingstone Beach
Skippingstone Beach is a popular swimming venue a short distance to the west of Bangor Harbour on Belfast Lough and sadly was the scene this morning (13th October) of a fatality. It is only a few hundred yards from the…
Sligo-based Galway-born GP Katie McAnena, a five-times national women's windsurfing champion, setting a new women's record at Mullaghmore, Co Sligo, last January
If there is an ill wind that doesn’t blow some good, it is the numbers taking to the sea and inland waterways during Covid-19. As The Sunday Times reports today, this season has been the busiest ever for outdoor pursuit…
Bathers and beachgoers at Sandycove on Dublin Bay
Sea swimming’s explosion in popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic has led scientists to call for more rapid, detailed and year-round testing of bathing water quality. As The Sunday Times reports today, a campaign on risks to swimmers’ health in Dublin…
The new Arabic language water safety posters from the RNLI and Irish Refugee Council
The charity that saves lives at sea is reaching out to Ireland’s immigrant communities as part of a new water safety campaign. Arabic is the first language being used by the RNLI in its warnings over the dangers associated with…
Carol Commons and Laura O’Hara completed their 13km distance in Kilcummin, Co Mayo
This year’s Galway Bay Swim took on a different format than usual, as participants were encouraged to ‘swim the bay their way’. As Galway Daily reports, social distancing issues prevented the annual gathering of open sea swimmers to cross Galway…
Family and friends cheering on swimmers at the 2019 RNLI Helvick swim
The 2020 RNLI Helvick Sponsored Swim in County Waterford which was scheduled for Sunday, September 13, has been cancelled due to the revised Covid-19 restrictions. It would have been the 26th year of the event which was a major fundraiser…
Land ahoy as Dominic Mudge swims the final stretch to the Giant’s Causeway last Sunday 9 August
Members of an open sea swimming team have become the first to complete a challenging route between Scotland and the Giant’s Causeway, as the Greenock Telegraph reports. The Oa Giants set out from Islay last Saturday 8 August and crossed…