Open water swims off Enniscrone Pier, Co Sligo, Belmullet, Co Mayo, Rathmullen, Co Donegal, and Roscommon’s Lough Key are being hosted by Swim Ireland over the next two months.

The Enniscrone Pier Swim on July 29th offers a “festival of swimming, catering for all levels. Distances range from three kilometres competitive to a 500 m participation and a 300m children’s event.

The Belmullet swim on August 4th involves a one-mile competitive event, a half-mile participation event and a half-mile children’s swim.

The Inch Mile off Rathmullen takes place on August 26th, with a one-mile competitive event and a 500m participation swim.

The Lough Key Swim on September 16th, involves longer routes which will lap McDermott’sCastle. Available distances are three kilometres competitive, and 1.5km and 800m participation events.

Participants in each of the events will receive a Swim Fest silicone swim hat and a Swim Ireland finisher medal on the day.

More details and booking are on the Swim Ireland website 

#OpenWaterSwim - The first ever Dunmore East RNLI Open Water Swim was launched with great fanfare yesterday (Thursday 10 March) by well-known hotelier John Brennan.

A very keen sailor who's hosted boating events at his Dromquinna Manor in Kenmore, Brennan visited the lifeboat station to officially launch the swim and to give his support to the work of the RNLI.

Brennan also runs the famous Park Hotel along with his brother Francis, and the two presented the popular TV show At Your Service together for a number of years.

He has huge interest in all things maritime, and his son Adam has recently graduated as a Super Yacht Master on the Isle of Wight. All of this made him the perfect choice for the launch.

The swim will take place on Sunday 29 May, with the first swim starting at noon. The three swims will be over distances of 500m, 750m and 1500m.

As the demand for and interest in different sporting events increases, the fundraising branch of Dunmore East were keen to host a major event that would see people take part in a rewarding and challenging open water swim.

Speaking at the launch, Dunmore East RNLI crew member Neville Murphy said: "We had the idea for this swim for quite a while before we took the plunge and went for it.

"We live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country with a stunning coastline and it is the perfect location for this type of event. We hope that for this our first year, we generate lots of interest and entries, which in turn will help us raise funds for the RNLI and their lifesaving work."

Murphy added: "We are very grateful to John Brennan who made the long journey from his home in Kerry to launch our event. Many people know him for his hospitality work, but he is also a very keen sailor and he knows the importance of people being able to swim when you live on our coastline."

Throwing his support behind the event, Brennan said: "As I know personally, it can be quite challenging to get a new venture off the ground. I hope people will get behind it and raise funds for the RNLI, which is a great charity and one close to my heart as a sailor."

Following the launch, Brennan kindly donated a voucher for two nights B&B and dinner in his luxurious five-star Park Hotel in Kenmare.

The event committee has decided to hold a random draw on the day which will include all event participants and the selected winner will receive the voucher as a prize. All prizegiving will take place in Waterford Harbour Sailing Club after the completion of all three swims.

For more information about the Dunmore East RNLI Open Water Swim and to register online go to www.athleticstiming.com. Entry costs €25.