Author Archives: myrtlevilleswimmers

RNLI Swim 2018 – Photos

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Thanks to Siobhan Russell for her fantastic work, as always.  For those of you who may not have access to these on Facebook, click on the link to see all the photos from the night:

RNLI Myrtleville-Church Bay 2018 Photos

Here’s a picture of the winner, Neddie Irwin.

Open Water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland

Neddie Irwin with Gary Heslin, RNLI and Bernard Lynch

Oh wait, that’s an old one.  That was 2013 when he did it in 33.22 and finished 18th – the youngest swimmer in the event.  He knocked a bit off that time this year to 22.15.  He must have done a bit of training for the past five years. And stretching.

Roll on 2019.  Hopefully without any wind-enforced postponements.

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped and the sponsors – the RNLI, Coast Guard, Gardai, Order of Malta, Funkytown, Sports Timing, Port of Cork, Centra Crosshaven, Cronin’s Pub, The Edge Sports, Happy Pear and numerous fantastic individuals without whom nothing could run.  All of your time and efforts are greatly appreciated.  Thanks to you all.

Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Swim: July 21st

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From Ray McArdle:

The 8th Annual Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Swim takes place at Blind Strand, near the picturesque fishing village of Courtmacsherry at 2.00pm on Saturday, July 21st. Courtmacsherry is a 45 minute drive from the Bandon Road roundabout. The swim will be well sign posted from the village. Please leave plenty of time for parking and registration. The safety briefing will take place at 1.30pm.

The swim course starts on the beach at Blind Strand and proceeds anti-clockwise around 2 markers. 

Participants can choose between 1 lap(1.5K) or 2 laps(3K). Swimmers who elect to do 2 laps will run/walk a short distance on the beach prior to starting lap 2. 

The Courtmacsherry volunteers will provide soup and sandwiches for all participants and volunteers. This year I am delighted to announce that IT@Cork Skillnet will continue to be our sponsors for the event. IT@Cork Skillnet will be providing the first 200 swimmers registered with a generous goody bag. Really nice gifts inside each one.

We have also secured the improved parking again this year.

Registration this year is again via Active – just click here – and closes on Thursday, July 19th at 11.00pm. Entry fee is €15 online. If the event maximum of 250 swimmers is not met, I will accept some entries on the day. On the day fee will be €25 and all proceeds go to the Courtmacsherry Lifeboat. Swim Ireland membership is not mandatory for this swim. 

If you know of anyone who would like to volunteer to kayak, please have them contact me directly.

Any further updates will be posted on the event web page on Facebook and emailed to those registered.

I look forward to seeing you for a fun swim on July 21st.

Rescheduled swim tonight

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All entries from Tuesday’s swim still stand.  Thanks to those who have advised they can’t make the rescheduled event tonight.  We hope to see you next year!

All entrants will receive an email this morning with the participant information.  It is posted here also for convenience – just click the link.

Rescheduled RNLI Myrtleville to Church Bay Swim 2018 – Participant Information

Green for Go – Registration from 18.00 this evening, Thursday, July 5th.

Ransom Demand

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The following was anonymously received (from Joanne H) this morning.

Myrtleville Musketeers, a renowned swimming fundamentalist group, have succeeded in capturing solo attemptee Brendan O’Brien. Brendan, a renowned Sandycover, is considered a valuable hostage in ongoing negotiations with Ned and his band of doggy paddling renegades. The Musketeers are striving to bring swimming back to the masses by being all inclusive, going so far as to offer them food and showers after their lap of the dazzling Dutchman.

In exchange for Brendan, The Myrtlevillains are willing to accept custody of 50, 3 legged feral goats, one misshapen Island, the installation of swimming lanes in Myrtleville by the Sandycove “swimmers” and maintenance of same, as well as the renaming of CDW to Myrtleville Fun Swim Camp with Cake.

Offers for Brendan’s release can be made via the triple axis of swimming evil: the Myrtle Turtles, Myrtleville Selkies and Myrtleville Musketeers.

Swimmer Safety – Danger from boats

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A potentially fatal accident was narrowly averted on Monday night around 7pm as a RIB travelling at 28 knots came across a swimmer way off the beach and in the middle of the Western commercial shipping corridor into/out of Cork harbour.  That’s well outside the line to the Dutchman or Bunny’s, if you’re not aware. The swimmer was in a wetsuit and had a black hat.  No buoy.   No brightly coloured hat.  Nothing.  If it had not been flat calm, the skipper would not have seen him.  He had no expectation that there would be anyone in the water that far out.  There should not be.

I’ve no idea who the swimmer was.  The RIB skipper who contacted us about the incident used a very good line that I’ll reproduce here.  Don’t take offence.  He’s 100% right and he went to some trouble to document the incident and make contact about it.

“while your swimming community may think that they are at the centre of the universe the majority of people in sailing clubs and other boat users have absolutely no idea that you guys even exist and those that do see you as “water pests” in much the same way that a lot of road users view cyclists.”

Why put yourself in danger by going out too far, not using a buoy or not wearing a high-vis hat, at the very least?

We’ve been saying this for years.  We are each responsible for our own safety.  Be responsible.   Please, listen and spread the word.

https://myrtlevilleswimmers.com/2013/05/31/stay-safe-swim-safe/

RNLI Myrtleville to Church Bay entries filling fast

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The forecast is looking good.  Time to make sure you’re in.  There are about 40 places left and they’re moving fast.

Get in now: enter now online on Active.

Don’t end up loitering on the beach shouting “anyone selling a ticket???” or with one of those “genuine swimmer seeks ticket” signs.  They’re really sad.  Get entered.  Don’t be at the mercy of the touts.  Especially since there are NO entries on the night and NO transferring places.  Don’t be fooled 🙂

Entries close at 13.00 on MONDAY, JULY 2nd OR WHEN WE REACH 300 IF THAT’S SOONER.

Get in vogue

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Trendsetters, that’s what we are down Myrtleville way.  I read Karl Henry in the Indo today…..“Get your togs on and jump in. Swimming in the sea is back in vogue”.  

Just what we dreamed of – to be “in vogue”.  Often we’ve marvelled as our style influencers shiver down the slip sashay down the catwalk in Myrtleville on a February morning with the crowds ooohing and aaahing about the latest look and how to “work it” – all the mnás gasping “oh, Denis/Daniel/Pat, you’re sooooo voguey with your big, BIG, orange float”.  Swoon, like – swoon.  Style and In-Vogue-ness, that’s what sea swimming is all about for us.

All vogued-up activities have to have a Season of course – Henley, Ascot, that kind of thing.  We’ve got the RNLI Myrtleville to Church Bay Swim on July 3rd, where fashions will be flaunted, style icons will point the way to the latest trends in togs and goggles and there’ll be a general level of vogueidity that even Anna Wintour couldn’t keep up with.

Influencers worth following – two men who never realised what trendsetters they were- or how much they were “in vogue”.  Will be signing autographs at the RNLI swim.

Don’t miss the most voguey event of the year – enter now on Active. It’ll be very much like this video, I’d say.  Any chance of a flash-mob, Joanne?