With thanks to Michael Holland, University Curator in UCC and the fantastic Irish Examiner Archives, here are some more pictures and cuttings about the swimming club at Weaver’s Point / Graball from the 1930s to the 1950s.  Our predecessors!

First a report on the club gala in 1935.  I’d love to know what the distance was for the long-distance race mentioned.  Also, was the man on the left the winner of the wetsuit category?

Examiner 1841-1959, Monday, August 26, 1935

Picture from the 1937 gala below – it’s a bit blurry, but look at the crowds!

Examiner 1841-1959, Tuesday, August 24, 1937

No picture from the 1947 “At Home”, but a report below.  I’d love to know what the “amusing novelty event” referred to was.

Irish Examiner 1841-1959, Tuesday, September 02, 1947

In an advertisement from 1939, it’s interesting to see that a well-developed social scene was in place in the club.  Maybe we should resurrect this one!  Bernard could drive the late bus for us.

Examiner 1841-1959, Friday, July 28, 1939

Finally – to my amazement – there was a clipping that shows that the introduction of Myrtleville Swimmers as Property Porn and using OWS as a way to shift property was by no means without historical precedent in the area. Miss Healy, below, clearly knew that the glamorous lifestyle of the open water swimmer would draw in the punters.

Irish Examiner 1841-1959, Friday, March 27, 1959;

Thanks again to Michael Holland.  We have located some other larger pictures and are looking to get them scanned.  I’ll post them when we have them.