Two women who pledged to swim off every Blue Flag beach on the island of Ireland within a year have completed their challenge ahead of target and raised over €25,000 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
Orla Leahy from Tipperary and Biddy Hughes from Mayo have swum off 98 beaches in total and estimate they have travelled 4,000 km of the coastline in doing so.
The pair hatched the plan after a swim under San Francisco’s Golden Gate bridge during a Tourism Ireland event.
Orla Leahy (left) and Biddy Hughes
Both mothers, Ms Leahy runs a tourism company, Ireland Chauffeur Travel, while Ms Hughes is sales manager with Westport Estate.
Naming their project the "Sea Fillies", they set out in March, and finished this week in equally chilly seas off Inchydoney beach, West Cork.
Describing it as “inspiring, fun and unlike anything I’ve experienced”, Ms Leahy said that “what started as a wild idea.. became something much deeper”.
“Logistically, it was a huge challenge, but every early start, every long drive, and every cold dip was worth it,” she said.
“Alongside Biddy, I’ve laughed, learned, and felt more connected than ever to Ireland’s coastline and the people who care for it. It’s been magical from start to finish,” she said.
The two women were joined by family members, friends and supporters at Inchydoney, and the RNLI has paid tribute to their efforts.
The RNLI says the funds will be used for training volunteers, equipping them with lifesaving gear, and operating the rescue service.
A record 89 beaches and 10 marinas were awarded Blue Flag recognition in the Republic this year for “excellent” bathing water quality, while Northern Ireland has nine Blue Flag beaches and seven marinas with the designation.
