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Displaying items by tag: Galley Flash

#Coastal Rowing: Myross won the senior men’s title for the second weekend in-a-row at the Irish Coastal Rowing Championships at the National Rowing Centre. The had also won at the ICRF All-Ireland. Killorglin won the senior women’s crown.

 In excellent conditions, the contest for the Club of the Championships was close. The prize goes to the club with the most wins. Holders Kilmacsimon could have taken it with wins in the final two races but were denied and Whitegate, the hosts, were crowned champions.  

Published in Rowing

#CoastalRowing: Galley Flash won the senior men’s title at the All Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships in Ballyshannon, Donegal. The West Cork crew led for virtually all the race from local rivals Kilmacsimon, with Courtmacsherry always in third.

 Vartry won the intermediate title by two lengths.

 Workmen’s from Kerry won a good final of the Senior Ladies competition. Galley Flash led early on, but Workmen’s had taken the lead by the turn and went on to forge a clearwater advantage, though Galley Flash finished well.

All Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships, Ballyshannon, Donegal (Selected Results)

Men

Senior: 1 Galley Flash 11 min 16 sec, 2 Kilmacsimon 11:21, 3 Courtmacsherry 11:26. Intermediate: Vartry. Junior: Ring. ­

Women

Senior: 1 Workmen’s 7:34, 2 Galley Flash 7:38, 3 Kilmacabea 7:49. Inter: Worken’s A 7:42. Jun: Kilmacsimon.

Published in Coastal Rowing

Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of.   For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water.  The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.

The Forty-foot Christmas Day swim

A Dublin institution that brings people from across Dublin and beyond for a dip in the chilly winter sea. Bathers arrive in the dark from 6 am and by noon the entire forty foot is a sea of red Santa hats!