Now in its fourth year, this event is organised by Brian O’Shea and entries are now open. They have a Facebook Page here or you can email ardgroomswim@hotmail.com.

The first year in 2013 it was billed as a 5km event and we were all delighted with ourselves when we finished and got our times.  Ned The Fun-Ruiner Denison then announced that it was, in fact, more like 4km, so it became a 4km event and our times didn’t look so good.  These feckin’ precise people would just annoy you.  Wouldn’t they?

Ned The Fun-Ruiner Denison – 4km my A$%.

Glenbeg Lake in Ardgroom was the scene of a momentous event in Open Water Swimming history,  of course.  The 2013 swim was the first 5km swim for a young man called Denis Condon – just setting out on his star-studded OWS career.  “It’s feckin’ 5k no matter what yer man says”, Mr. Condon was quoted as saying at the time.

Denis Condon finishes a great swim in Ardgroom Lake.  August 4, 2013.

So, get entering now.  Any excuse to visit the beautiful Beara Peninsula should be grabbed.  There’s a misconception that you go to West Cork if you visit Schull or Baltimore etc.  These are just suburbs of the City.  To really go West – go to Beara.

Siobhan Russell’s Swim & Photo Diary of the Years’ Swims is always a great recap on the year and a highlight for all swimmers.  She’s premiering the 2015 diary in the Pine Lodge in Myrtleville tomorrow, Saturday, 2nd January at 4.00 pm.

Swim beforehand at 2.30 PM, then Pine Lodge Bar at 4 pm.

Krystals Munchie Van will be there and ready to serve food from 4 pm onwards (pizza, burgers, wraps, chips etc).

All more than welcome to come along – please do if you can: the forecast is good too!!

Just one of Siobhan’s great pictures from the year.

The hard work of Tom Bermingham and Pat Higgins – along with Jimmy Long’s generosity in providing permission for the new awning and bench in Myrtleville – were marked today with a grand opening, Myrtleville-style!

Men at Work – hard labour for Tom and Pat: but always with a smile on their faces.

The Long family own the boathouse and Jimmy Long very kindly gave permission for the structure.  He was on hand to cut the ribbon, aided by elves!

When you only meet people in the water it’s hard to judge their talents in other areas, but we certainly have some talented musicians in our midst, who entertained us all this morning.  Maybe the band really should be reforming!!

Jimmy Long and Tom Bermingham gave great short speeches on what swimming in Myrtleville means to them and timely reminders about always swimming safely, no matter how experienced you are.  Jimmy was presented with a “thank-you” Christmas hamper for his generosity, including this cake for himself and his wife, Noreen.

There were others who helped out with the project as well, including Gary Frost providing his own sail for the covering!

It was a really enjoyable event this morning and a great start to the Christmas break.  Very well done to everyone involved.

Tom Bermingham and Pat Higgins have been swimming daily in Myrtleville for many years – rain, hail or shine (mostly rain and hail!).  Many of you will know them and have enjoyed Tom’s encouragement that the sea is “like a bath” (even in February!).

As efforts to get planning permission for a changing shelter have been dragged out, Tom and Pat have made a huge effort into installing a bench and awning to offer protection for swimmers changing.  To mark this, we’re going to have an unveiling on Sunday morning next at 10am.  

Local resident and longest serving Myrtleville swimmer, Jimmy Long, will be there for the launch and it’s important that as many of us as possible attend.  Whether you have time to swim or not, come down on Sunday at 10am and mark the event.  We will all be very glad of the shelter in the months ahead.

Jimmy Long in 2014 – bestowing his blessing for another year on the beach!

Tom and Pat – in the sea every day and it’s always warm (they say)!

See you all on Sunday at 10am: Bí ann, gan teip 🙂

Lots going on with dozens of people having realised that the OW season runs from Jan 1st to Dec 31st.  Swimmers in every day, morning and afternoon.

The Myrtle Turtles appear to have resolved all issues and recent press releases emphasise the sweetness and light surrounding the team, as they toil away in chlorine and occasional saline.

There have been suggestions that the latest PR photo of Eoin Lowry back in the Myrtle fold might suggest he has been drugged, but Manager Mulcahy was quick to rubbish this suggestion.  All is going to plan, says Maeve.  What could possibly go wrong?

Anne, Ros and Myrtle keep a close hold on Eoin.

Elsewhere, The Hat returned to the USA for a bit of cold water swimming at 5c with Barry Madden in Chicago.

Barry Madden and The Hat after a swim in Lake Michigan.

Finally, Happy 70th to the legendary Mike Harris 🙂

A nice bunch of Myrtleville and Sandycove Swimmers helping Mike to celebrate his 70th at the Turkey Swim last weekend.