Summer’s here….maybe?

Posted on June 8, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Looks like we can expect some rise in the sea temps over the coming week. Even as they’ve stuck under 11c, it’s fantastic to see eleven swimmers doing the 4km over and back to Fountainstown on Sunday. Mike Elliot obliged with safety cover, as he so often does now. Well done to everyone – huge strides forward from last year.

Siobhan Russell is back in the sea herself, but she followed the swimmers across to get some beautiful scenic shots yesterday. Seriously, who’d swap this for North Korea-Cork’s “freshwater” camps? Sadists – I’m tellin’ ya.

She wasn’t the only one keeping an eye in the sky as our daily swimmers, Tom and Pat, followed them over too.

Back at the beach, we had a visit for a ~~pose~~ swim by Sham “The Body” O’Riordan – seen here ~~sucking it in~~ standing naturally beside Peter O’Mahony. Sham’s lost all unnecessary body weight with all the marathons he’s running. He can’t even fit in his wetsuit any more. Peter’s looking fit too – must be all that rugby!

The busy beach continued after the earlier swims with locals, regulars and visitors from Clonmel.

Hopefully we’ll see 13c and over soon – roasted, we’ll be. Usual swim tonight 6pm. Bí ann, gan teip.

Secret training camps in North Korea-Cork

Posted on May 28, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Disturbing rumours have reached Myrtleville of the emergence of a shadowy cult practicing black arts in “freshwater” camps. Original correspondence indicated the location could be North Korea, but we now believe it is more likely to be North Cork.

The motives of the organisers and active recruiters for the camps is unclear, but their targeting of Myrtleville to seek recruits is clearly due to our international fame as the best swim location in the world (unimpeachable source: B. Lynch). Their motives, however, must certainly contain some sadistic tendencies. Sadism is really the only explanation for why anyone would willingly exchange this…..

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

Myrtleville – where God intended people to swim.

For this…..

North Korea/Cork – where God knows why anyone would swim.

For the public good, trusted envoys were dispatched to the secret location to attempt to capture images of the unimaginable activities being engaged in and to warn unsuspecting swimmers from being lured to the dark side.

Undercover agent at the secret location. Practically invisible.

Clear images were difficult to procure as the subjects took flight, splashing wildly to avoid the lens.

A particularly fast disciple who rumours indicate was returning to the scene for the first time in a long period of time. Other disciples referred to him as "Fish".

A particularly fast disciple escapes the attentions of our intrepid investigators. Referred to as “Fish”, rumours indicate he was returning to the scene after a protracted absence.

One of the ringleaders was snapped from a distance. The Klan-esque hooded cloak was a particularly disturbing image noted at the camp. Referred to by disciples as DonCon, camp followers say he is rarely seen without his bucket.

The most disturbing image from the reconnaissance was of the cruel treatment meted out to our own unsuspecting Anne Sheehy. Anne was tricked into attending the camp by formerly trusted acquaintances who had been brainwashed by the cult. She was pilloried for wearing The Hat and forced to do underwater jumping jacks in the black, salt-free substance known in the camp terminology as “fresh water”.So – a warning. Be careful who you listen to and trust when you’re at the beach. They’re amongst us – plotting, planning, trying to cull unsuspecting swimmers and lure them to the camps to feed their numbers. They’re scheming up competing events to our own “world’s greatest swim” (source, again, B. Lynch) – the RNLI swim. They’ll use seemingly innocuous words like “fresh” water to lure you in – their plausible patter is designed to make you forget that “freshwater” is, like “pool”, a synonym for “THE GATES OF HELL!!!!!” Don’t be fooled.

Be Warned! Be Vigilant! Together, we can defeat this evil cult. Viva Myrtleville!!

Last May Monday

Posted on May 26, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Sea temp was down at 11c, which is a bit cooler than the same night last year. In May 2014, we had gone past 12c and were heading for 13c and over.

Still, it didn’t stop over forty swimmers last night, with lots of smiles. It might be slightly chilly, but it’s still great. Our fantastic Siobhan Russell was down again for the pictures. Looking forward to seeing her recovered and back in the sea very soon.

I know it’s unfair to pick on people on this site and I really shouldn’t do it. Having said that – Gary, seriously, have you even taken to drawing lines on the sand to ensure you get just the right stance width? All of the Orcas in the picture – excellent work. Gary, though?

Lots of the triathletes are getting their OW training done – chilly or not – as their season really kicks off. I have to mention the new Orca Open Water suits again – great visibility.

The McCarthy brothers weren’t just getting a swim in, but having a healthy big vs small brother race.

Ronan’s just smiling as younger brother Conor insists he won.

James Makin – looking just a tad embarrassed as Agnieszka Swiatkowska practices her swooning!

Eleanor Fennessy and Rory Coughlan – becoming regulars.

Keep swimming & Swim Safe 🙂

Paddling in the Park.

Posted on May 25, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Finbarr Hedderman’s Paddle in the Park went off really well on Friday night. Great idea to make use of the river closer in to the city.

Don’t forget the next event – the Bulman swim, this Saturday, May 30th. Click here for entry details. It’s another qualifying swim for the RNLI Myrtleville-Church Bay swim on July 4th!

Opem water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

Marie Watson follows up her first Fountaintstown-Myrtleville 2km with an evening at the Paddle in the Park.

Kieran Murphy and Audrey Burkley – always so dour: never a smile out of them.

The Hat makes people smile! Brenda Sisk at the Paddle in the Park.

Smiles all round on Friday night. Well, nearly….

Angela – such an inscrutable face. So hard to tell what might she be thinking. (Back off now, Gordon, now, now….)

On Saturday, Gary Frost had great plans and organised a 2km or 4km swim. Really, he organised everything and rounded up the crowds. Didn’t quite go to plan.

Gary’s crowds…..not even a Gary.

It could be that he got lost. Some places are very hard to find. Gary recently drove all over Crosshaven without seeing this small little place.

Get entered for The Bulman swim.

Qualifying swims!

Posted on May 19, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Saturday morning’s swim was fantastic, with newcomers, visitors from Dublin and Australia and several returnees after Winter breaks.

Ruth Deane emerges from hibernation, joining Ann Jordan on her first visit to Myrtleville and Diane Neaves who just isn’t going to let the cold win – going for the wetsuit and cardi look.

A group of fourteen went across to Fountainstown by car and swam back. Several were doing this trip for the first time and more experienced swimmers went along behind them to encourage and support. Just how it should be done. I happened to be standing in the water as Marie Watson touched the beach in Myrtleville and her smile was great to see. It is an achievement and – of course – qualifies you to enter for the RNLI swim on July 4, so get entered! Well done to all.

Are we there yet, are we there yet? Setting off to Fountainstown.

Joshua Wheeler made contact from Melbourne in April to say he was going to be visiting his in-laws in Myrtleville and would like a swim with the group. Thanks to Anders Inglesten who loaned him a wetsuit. Joshua might have been cursing Anders as he put his head in the water for the first time, though. A bit chillier than the current Melbourne temp he said (or “bloody freezing” for short).

Myrtleville local, Jerry, with son in-law Joshua Wheeler

It really was a case of spot the personalities around the beach on Saturday.

Look, there’s Mike Harris, oh and Gwen Burchell and look, look – that’s yer man Lynch. Who’s that other guy with the cup, though?

OK, OK, Fergal Somerville – the Chanimal – was down from Dublin too. If you know anyone in Dublin thinking of doing long swims, point them towards Fergal’s new support initiative here for Dublin Distance Dippers. Keep swimming and always Swim Safe.

Bermuda Hat & Hidey Hat.

Posted on May 15, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

The Hat is still getting around. I think it’s supposed to be a Panama Hat and Bermuda Shorts, but this one is a Bermuda Hat. Modelled by Bonnie Schwartz, this is a verifiable picture of The Hat on tour in Bermuda via NY City. Getting this picture was a welcome relief after the terrible Sean Foley Silicon Valley (Youghal) Fraud.

Bonnie Schwartz in Bermuda.

Bonnie will be back in Myrtleville on August 21st for her first “Married Lady Swim”, just two days after her wedding. She’s bringing a group of US swimmers with her, so mark that one in your diaries for an early swim that Friday morning.

It’s great to see people proudly wearing The Hat. Even those who may not publicly be known for being vocal supporters are still spotted quietly showing their true colours.

The Hat worn on the inside. Is this a “keep your friends close but your enemies closer” Godfather vibe, or is she just coming out as a Myrtlevillian? Looks good on you, Angela!

Viva The Hat 🙂

Lies, lies – it’s all lies!

Posted on May 1, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Last Saturday, Sean Foley purchased a new Myrtleville Hat in Lynch’s Centra. Followers of this site might remember Sean as the man who swore blind, crossed his heart and spat five times on a gypsy’s right hand that he would be down swimming a couple of weeks back. No sign. So, by way of making up for this, he announced he would buy a hat and take it to Silicon Valley this week, where he’d use it in an open water pool and in SF Bay.

After a few days, he posted the following picture on d’interweb.

Sean Foley in ~~Silicon Valley, San Francisco~~, Youghal?

We were all duly impressed that Sean was in San Francisco and awaited proper pictures of the sea. And we awaited. And waited. And awaited again.

With time on their hands, some experts noted that the supposedly 50m open water pool in the background looked an awful lot like Brookfield. Others queried Sean’s reasoning that he hadn’t been able to go into SF Bay as there might be great white sharks within 14 miles (he was very precise). No shark would attack a Hat wearer (note: incomplete research on this. Swim with sharks at your own risk, whether wearing Hat or otherwise).

Finally, body language experts noted that in the picture, Sean was clearly looking to the right – the classic tell for LIARS (note: some research has disproved this, but we don’t believe it. They’re LIARS too).

So, for the first time, we have a Hat Fraud. We await Sean’s return from Glanmire or Youghal or wherever to defend himself, or accept his sentence of a quick dip on the next calm day of our choosing.

Calm day, thank God.

Weaver’s Point Swimming Club

Posted on April 26, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

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.

Ould fellas.

Posted on April 24, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Ould fellas will get beaten by young fellas eventually. That’s what came into my head the other day looking at some photos. A few examples – two from the same families, one not.

Some of you may remember a great local swimmer (really local – actually lives in Myrtleville), Sham Riordan. It’s so long since he’s been seen in the water, it’s only the old-timers will be able to put a face to the name (Note: effort to shame him into coming back). He turned up recently for look at where he used to swim (it’s at the bottom of the hill where he lives) and brought one of the reasons for his absence with him.

Former swimmer, Sham Riordan, pays a visit to the beach for Breda’s birthday swim. Just to watch, though. It was tiring – especially for James Riordan.

The picture made me think that in about ten years or so, James will be ripping past the likes of me out to the Dutchman, cruising at 1.30 / 100m and not even drawing breath. Of course, I’m a slow ould fella as it is. Sham might still be ahead of him for a year or two – he’s fast, is Sham – but time is very much on James’ side.

That’s what happens, though. Keep feeding them and they’ll leave you behind in the water. Or the bike & road, as J. Slowey Jnr. is showing Snr. the way these days.

James Slowey Jnr – Winner. James Slowey Snr – The one with the beard.

The picture that made me start thinking about young fellas passing out ould fellas, though, was the one below. And not necessarily their ould fellas either – ould fellas in general. Even really fast ould fellas.

Taken at the Lee Swim in 2008, this picture features a former captain of the Barr’s U14 Féile hurling team and a treble winner of the Myrtleville – Church Bay swim.

Ned Denison is in the picture too. Ned has yet to win the premier event in the Irish OWS calendar – the Church Bay swim, of course – and he can’t hurl (no touch).

Myrtleville-Church Bay champion 2010, 2011 and 2012, former Féile captain and reigning Lee Swim champion, Chris Mintern, on the other hand…..

Low profile, black hats. For when you don’t want to be seen.

Posted on April 23, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

There was a bit of a discussion about swim hat colours at the beach lately, as the number of swimmers back in the sea grows quite quickly. Not a fashion discussion – a safety one. As the Summer season begins, it’s good to think about safety again.

A quick scan of safety rules for open water swims online came up with these:

Brightly coloured swim caps to aid visibility while in the water must be worn.
Standard kit would include wetsuit, goggles, high visibility swim hat, flip flops, towel, changing mat, and water proof watch.
High visibility swim caps are worn by swimmers to make ocean swimming safer.
A high visibility swim cap shows where you are – especially valuable if there are boats passing by.
All swimmers must wear a high visibility swim cap.

I stopped after five events – I reckoned it was clear enough. I couldn’t find any that said “cool, black or dark, invisibility-inducing caps must be worn“. I looked – really.

This, for example, is a high visibility swim cap:

It’s easy to see in the sea. See?

Here’s one that isn’t high visibility:

It’s cool, black, low-profile – AND BLOODY USELESS IN THE SEA UNLESS YOU WANT TO PLAY SUBMARINES!

So, jokes aside, black is great in the pool. Totes the coolest. For the sea – go bright. As bright as you like.

Absolutely worthwhile to re-read this from Tom McCarthy, as the boats start to reappear around Myrtleville as well: Stay Safe. Swim Safe.

Myrtleville Swimmers

Open Water – Sea Swimming in Cork, Ireland

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