Galway Bay endurance swimmer Daragh Morgan is one of the first people to swim around Ireland, completing the circumnavigation this week.
Starting in May and finishing in November, Morgan completed a 1,468-kilometre circuit of the Irish coastline.
Morgan featured in a Wavelengths podcast with Lorna Siggins on Afloat last week, as he neared the finish line.
He spent five months on the mission, logging 99 separate swims over 93 days and spending 338 hours in the water.
Morgan maintained an average of 15 kilometres per day and swam roughly four hours daily.
The project raised €27,000 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and the Simon Community.
A dedicated support team operated three vessels during the expedition. The primary boat was a traditional 43-foot Galway Hooker named Naomh Crónán.
Morgan credited expedition captain Dara Bailey for his seamanship and leadership, saying: “Without Dara, none of this would have been possible.”
The journey brought more than just physical endurance. Morgan faced freezing waters, jellyfish stings, severe chafing, and multiple injuries.
The idea for the swim emerged six years ago and became a reality in 2025 after extensive planning and training.
The mission operated without major corporate sponsorship, relying on community support and grassroots fundraising.
Morgan will be celebrated at a homecoming event in Galway Docks at 4:30 pm this Saturday, November 22. The public is invited to attend.
