Open Water Swimming News from Ireland

“Aquabikes” caught the attention of former Irish Times journalist Kevin Myers back in 1982. The Irishman’s Diary writer was seriously concerned about the pressure windsurfers were putting on the RNLI Dun Laoghaire lifeboat at the time. He had read about…

Tramore Lifeboat RNLI was tasked yesterday afternoon to the aid of a child who was swept out to sea. It is the fifth call out this year for the Tramore crew, three of which have involved sea swimmers. The lifeboat…

Dublin Bay Pressure Group Says 'Deterioration of Bathing Water Now a Significant Risk to Swimmers'
11th April 2021 Dublin Bay
The environmental action group, SOS Dublin Bay, has today launched a detailed policy document entitled - “The water quality crisis in Dublin Bay - what is happening and actions needed to protect the public”. Download the full documents and survey…

Galway RNLI lifeboat rescued a swimmer who got into difficulty off Blackrock beach in Salthill this afternoon during very challenging weather conditions. The alarm was raised at 12.25 pm by a pedestrian who saw the woman struggling in the water…

Forty Foot Sea Swimmers Rescued by Coastguard on Stormy Dublin Bay
8th February 2021 Forty Foot Swimming
The Irish Coast Guard rescued two swimmers after they ran into difficulty while swimming at the Forty Foot bathing place on Dublin Bay yesterday. The incident occurred earlier today as the swimmers required help in the choppy sea. The Dun…

Weather & Waves for Open Water Swimmers Theme of First in New Talk Series
25th January 2021 Sea Swim
Sea swimming weather and wave safety is the theme of an online talk tonight - the first in a new series hosted by Swim Ireland and the RNLI. In response to the surge in interest in open water swimming during…

Tributes have been paid to a Dublin-born woman who drowned off a coastal town on New Zealand’s South Island. As Stuff reports, 56-year-old Eve Parkin was reported missing in South Bay off Kaikōura on Tuesday 12 January. After a multi-agency…

RTÉ Nationwide Checks In on Donegal Man’s Challenge to Swim Around Ireland
6th January 2021 Sea Swim
A Donegal swimmer’s epic challenge to circumnavigate the island of Ireland will feature on RTÉ Nationwide tonight, Wednesday 6 January. As reported in October on Afloat.ie, Henry O’Donnell has been donning his fins and taking to the water — as…

Irish Coast Guard & RNLI Issue Water Safety Appeal for Christmas & New Year
23rd December 2020 RNLI Lifeboats
The RNLI and the Coast Guard are appealing to the public to exercise caution when participating in any activity on and near the water during the Christmas and New Year period and at all times to be mindful of the…

Instead of Christmas swims, Howth RNLI fundraisers in County Dublin are asking Howth peninsula swimmers to "DIP & DONATE" to the RNLI anytime between December 19th and Jan 7th. Howth RNLI has posters with a printed QR code (see above)…

Swimmer Dies After Getting into Difficulty at Hawk Cliff on Killiney Bay
18th December 2020 Sea Swim
A swimmer has died after getting into difficulty as Hawk Cliff in Dalkey in Killney Bay yesterday. The accident happened after the Irish Coast Guard based in Dun Laoghaire Harbour received a call about a swimmer in difficulty. Emergency services…

Report of Swimmers in Distress Near Donabate Prompts Skerries Lifeboat Launch
1st December 2020 RNLI Lifeboats
Skerries RNLI’s volunteer crew were tasked on Saturday afternoon (28 November) after a call to emergency services reported concerns over a group of sea swimmers off Donabate. The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis Simson was launched shortly before 3pm to…

Experienced open water swimmer Paddy McNamara has appealed to people to be mindful of sea safety after he rescued a young man from Galway Bay yesterday. McNamara pulled the man in his early twenties from the water after he got…

"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…

Donegal man Henry O’Donnell has successfully completed the first phase of his quest to be the first person in the world to fin swim around a country. The 'Finman' is progressing south down the Irish Sea towards Dublin. Henry has…

Swim Around Ireland - Donegal Man Henry O'Donnell's Attempting Clockwise Circumnavigation
22nd October 2020 Sea Swim
There are many variations to the sport of swimming. But, long-distance swimming is on another level, and what Donegal man Henry O'Donnell is attempting at the moment he calls an Expedition. He will try to swim around the Island of…