Cliff erosion

Posted on March 28, 2014 by myrtlevilleswimmers

I saw an article saying that the Irish coastline has lost up to two metres in soil in various areas during the Winter storms. A couple of weeks ago, Siobhan was employing her waterproof camera. The shot below of Rob McFadden gives a good view on the right – his left – of the battering the cliff in Myrtleville has taken from the storms.

Rob gets the waterproof camera treatment – but is shunted to the side to show the erosion!

When you look at it from the sea, it does look like there’s a good bit of soil gone there.

I also came across this site from UCC on coastal erosion, which specifically references the Myrtleville cliffs as susceptible to erosion.

Don’t just take my word for it – go down swimming and look back in at it 🙂

Worth getting up for.

Posted on March 26, 2014 by myrtlevilleswimmers

We got in one more morning in March. The water was flat calm on a low tide. Temps were 5c on land and even though it had dipped back to 7.8c in the sea, it was a beautiful swim to the Dutchman and back.

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland

Denis Condon first into the water – Myrtleville sunrise on March 26, 2014.

From about April 18 onwards we will have sunrise on our side again – let the Summer begin!

Swims & Selfies

Posted on March 24, 2014 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Lots of swims this weekend with groups in on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Denis Condon was at all of them, of course! The water was between 8.4c and 9.2c – not bad at all for March.

A bit chilly after Sunday’s swim – need a hot water bottle.

It’s great to see all the celebs encouraging no-make-up selfies in the fashion press. Here’s local celebrity, B. Lynch, with his contribution.

I think I better avoid Crosshaven for a few days after publishing this one 🙂

Bernard Lynch’s no make-up selfie.

Swims this week on Wednesday, March 26 @ 06.30 (in the morning!); Thursday, March 27 at 4.30pm & Saturday, March 29 at 08.15.

Myrtleville Mondays at 6pm are back next week, starting on 31 March 🙂

Munster Open Water Swim Calendar 2014

Posted on March 22, 2014 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Finbarr Hedderman has done his usual fantastic job and the 2014 calendar is here.

Of course, June 28 is the only one you really need to look at.

Also in PDF form here 2014 Sea Swim Calendar.

Enter and Enjoy 🙂

The leading group start their swim in the annual RNLI Myrtleville to Church Bay Swim 2013. Picture: Howard Crowdy.

Pre-season swims

Posted on March 21, 2014 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Rob Bohane dubbed it “pre-season swimming” and we got a fantastic morning for a swim to the Dutchman. Seven happy swimmers and all looking forward to when the clocks really work in our favour from mid-April onwards.

Myrtleville – 21 March, 2014 at dawn.

About 8.4c in the sea and with the sun coming up to warm the end of the swim, it really was lovely. You would imagine that hard-core, open water superstars would just find it toasty, but Finbarr wasn’t around to keep up the standards so Rob and Carol, well…the pictures say it all.

Rob ‘I’m not ashamed of my wetsuit’ Bohane, Carol ‘A little bit ashamed of mine’ Cashell – with Denis & Bernard.

“And when you’re finished swimming, it makes a really good hat!” Rob keeps up the justifying.

Missed my birthday by a day because of yesterday’s storm, but Carol still brought birthday muffins. Thanks, Carol 🙂

Birthday muffins for me (and everyone else)! Thanks, Carol.

Trying for 08.15 tomorrow morning or Carol has another group at 09.00 also.

Visitors, tourists & supporters.

Posted on March 18, 2014 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Saturday was absolutely picture-perfect in Myrtleville. Water temperature at 9.5c and sunny on land – real signs of Summer on the way.

Denis Condon going in first – Saturday March 15, 2014.

We had a welcome return visit from Angela Leonard from Wicklow Masters, down for the weekend. No pictures allowed! She was telling us it was only 4c in the water up the country. Looking at the nearest temps I can find (Arklow), I think she was just trying to make us feel inadequate. To be fair, it looks like it was really, really cold up there in February 🙂

James Slowey found his map for directions and managed to make it down for a swim. He even brought a support team – at least it was a nice morning for them.

Dean & Ciara – James Slowey’s support team: dragged out of bed on a Saturday morning.

Bernard was on tour for the weekend and came across an interesting sign in the Deise.

Bernard on Tour – very medieval down Waterford way…..the lower sign is important, though!

The planned swim for Thursday morning is looking dodgy as the forecast is very bad. We are going to move it to Friday at 06.30, to see if we can get in then.

First early swim planned

Posted on March 13, 2014 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Swimming today, Thursday at 4.30pm and Saturday at 08.15.

Next week, the plan is for a first early swim of the year on Thursday, March 20 at 06.30. The light will be with us for a week or two before the clock changes, so we might as well take advantage!

Monday nights start up again on March 31 at 6pm. We had some nice candidates for “safety boats” among the liners last year. Looks like the first of the applicants for this year has arrived – anchored off the beach yesterday.

Schooner off Myrtleville – March 12, 2014.

Here’s a more close-up version of the Gorch Fock by Hugh Mockler:

The Gorch Fock at anchor off Myrtleville – pic by Hugh Mockler.

RTE Weather continue their devotion to Myrtleville

Posted on March 11, 2014 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Apparently Evelyn must have told Jean about Myrtleville. Now she’s using the picture too. Just as long as neither of them tell Lydia.

I think the floating door behind her takes you through to the dark side. That’s down West.

Jean Byrne and Ireland’s premier swimming spot. Evelyn told her about it.

The comebacks continue

Posted on March 10, 2014 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Missing a few with flu, but the show goes on. The water was 8.9ºc on Saturday morning as Spring continues. It was over 9ºc a couple of afternoons last week.

Carol Cashell arrived for her first sea swim in eight weeks and brought Orla Houlihan with her to keep Gary company.

Gary, Carol and Orla – determined to capture the moment

No continuation of last week’s show by Gary, but Carol and Orla did bring muffins and cake to feed the regulars. They’ll be expecting that every week now 🙂

Aiming for Thursday at 4.30pm this week and Saturday at 08.15. Forecast looks great.

March – in like a lamb and out like a….Gary?

Posted on March 3, 2014 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Good conditions and almost nine degrees in the water gave a very nice start to March for Saturday’s swimmers.

Siobhan makes it in front of the camera and poses – of course.

Our daily swimmers have enjoyed the warmer than usual water right through the last few months. “Like a bath”, as Tom says!

Tom & Pat – daily swimmers and an example to us all.

Even though it’s not Ice Mile calibre, cold(ish) water can do strange things to the mind. That’s the only explanation I can think of for Gary’s carry-on in this series of pictures, as he throws off the wetsuit and works on his acclimatisation outside the water.

This is one display Denis wasn’t expecting to have to watch – Gary springs into action.

‘REAL men don’t wear skirts, lads – just togs!’ Gary Frost continues the show.

The Finale – Would you buy a used car from this man? Gary Frost doing…..something. You’ll have to ask him.

More returnees last week with Rebeca Power notably going straight back into the sea in togs. Cold? What cold? Aiming for Thursday at 4.30pm and Saturday at 08.15, weather permitting.

Myrtleville Swimmers

Open Water – Sea Swimming in Cork, Ireland

Monthly Archives: March 2014