"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 swimmer - any day between December 21st and 30th at a beach nearby within Covid-19 guidelines only.
"We’ll post out a t-shirt. You can swim at your nearest beach and post a photo on social media of you braving the cold winter waters,” Lynia O’Brien, the charity's community fundraiser, says.
Thousands of people from Galway and beyond have gathered with friends and family at Blackrock, Salthill on Christmas Day over a number of decades to take part in the annual swim and raise funds for charity.
Cope Galway board member and TG4 Rugbaí Beo presenter Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill said she was "very excited that 2020 isn't going to rob me of the traditional Christmas swim!"
Last year almost €50,000 was raised for Cope Galway at the Salthill, Galway, event and over half of that was from bucket collections on the day.
Cope Galway says all funds raised by this event will help support its services for people affected by homelessness, women and children experiencing domestic abuse, and support older people at risk of social and nutritional isolation in Galway.
To register and for further information please visit here