Weather permitting, a night swim is being held off Galway’s Blackrock tower in Salthill this evening (September 16) in aid of round-Ireland swimmer Daragh Morgan.
A “magical swim in the dark” is promised, with kayak safety support, off the tower as dusk falls, and the aim is to help raise funds for Morgan’s extraordinary effort.
Morgan (26), who was born in Dublin and grew up in Waterford, has been living in Galway for the past six years. He set off to swim solo around Ireland on May 31st.
He has swum Galway Bay twice and has run from Malin to Mizen head, among other challenges. He set off at the end of May to clockwise around the coast, pledging to raise funds for the RNLI and the Simon’s Community.
There have been previous round Ireland swims, with a 2006 relay swim by six swimmers including Nuala Moore and the late Henry O’Donnell being the first swim on record of over 1300 km around the coast.
O’Donnell, the Donegal-born former Army Ranger, lifeguard, diver and swim instructor, became the first man to finswim around Ireland.
The solo swimmer completed 1,569km, equivalent to 847 nautical miles, when he landed at Carrickfin beach in the Donegal Gaeltacht in May 2022.
Morgan is hoping to set a record for the world’s first tidal assisted stage swim around Ireland. He is being supported by the crew of the Galway hooker, Naomh Crónán. More here
