Monday Nights are back!

Posted on March 31, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

A good crowd last night considering the near gale – but it was Westerly so we had lots of shelter. A few people discovered it’s a bit harder to swim back into the gale than out with it, though 🙂

Water around 9c so it’s definitely got a bit warmer. Bunny Swims this weekend – 07.00 on Good Friday and 08.15 on Saturday, as usual.

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

Some of the first Monday night group. Lots of black and some pink (but not Carmen – she’s in Violet).

Rory Coughlan – down for his second swim in Myrtleville and Breda ‘it’s very hard swimming into that wind’ Maguire.

Gary Frost attempts a photo bomb on the Twomey family portrait but he’s just too far away.

Monday nights and Safe Swimming: Always.

Posted on March 30, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

They’re back! With the sea temperature around 9℃ and the forecast for a bit of WSW wind, tonight at 6.00pm is the first Myrtleville Monday evening swim of 2015. Last year we had nights where between 5.00pm and 7.30pm over 200 swimmers took to the water.

Sea swimming is fantastic, but let’s just have a quick reminder that safe swimming is what it is all about. Never take a chance in the sea.

Each individual swimmer is responsible for their own safety.

We all swim at our own risk.

Monday nights have become so popular because they give an opportunity to swim with others. That’s great, but don’t make the mistake of swimming too far from the beach just to stay with a group. Even in a group don’t go too far out to sea – stay inside (well inside) the line between the Dutchman Rocks and Bunnyconnellan. You don’t ever need to be more than 100m out from the coast – and less is better.

Plan your swim. Go only as far as you can comfortably go, while remembering always that you have to get back to where you started. There’s no point swimming 750m to the Dutchman and then struggling back, or needing help. That’s not only pointless, but dangerous. Why not swim 50m or 100m from the beach, then swim back? If you feel good, do it again – as often as you want to and in complete safety.

There are always swimmers looking to do shorter distances – just speak up: ask what people are doing, see if it suits you and only do what you can accomplish safely. Over time, you can build up to longer distances, if that is what you want to do. Be Safe – Always.

Now’s a good time to read for the first time or remind yourself of some very good advice on safe swimming in Myrtleville.

Swim at your own risk.

D’Eclipse – de video and d’outtakes.

Posted on March 27, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Congratulations once again to the fabulous film-making team of Condon and Sheehy. The Eclipse video is excellent.

Anne does a great job of taking the raw materials from Denis and producing smooth, slick videos. Of course, it’s not always that straightforward in the creative process. There may be the odd bump in the path when people don’t do what’s wanted when the director wants it done. Director Denis is not always happy – especially when he has to count the actors in again.

In this next one – something’s happening or at least Denis tells us it is. Just don’t follow Pat – Denis won’t like that. Oh, speaking of Pat….we can hear what you were saying to our Siobhan on this video, Mr. Lowry. She can sing if she wants to sing and don’t you be a bully boy telling her to sing So Low. You leave our Siobhan alone – you brat. Voice of an angel, she has, an angel 😉

Great work Anne – nobody need ever know how much you had to cover up with Bonnie’s singing.

Peace breaks out – HARCON PLC goes public.

Posted on March 23, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

In breaking business, legal and sporting news this column can exclusively reveal that the feuding empires of the Condon and Harris Shower companies have let business logic come to the fore and have joined forces as HARCON Plc. This new entity will combine the polished, established credentials of the Harris Shower company with the guerilla marketing tactics of the younger upstarts in Condon Showers, to seek world domination of the post-OW swim shower market. All ongoing legal actions between the two companies worldwide have been dropped.

Chairman and CEO of HARCON Plc on a corporate day out to celebrate the new company.

Speaking at the company launch, Mike Harris (Chairman), commented that combining the first three letters of each of the existing company names to create HARCON seemed the perfect naming solution. Mr. Harris noted that they had considered the first three letters of his name and the last three of Mr. Condon’s. However, it was felt that HARDON Plc could potentially have some negative connotations. Given that same was also anatomically impossible after a cold water swim this might open the door to misinterpretation by customers – with potential legal challenges. “And we’ve had enough of those”, said Mr. Harris, wryly.

New promotional shot of the HARCON Shower in use.

This is a good-news business story for all concerned – except the customers, as shower prices have now been doubled. “Monopoly?”, CEO Condon was quoted as saying, “I haven’t played that for years. ”

Delighted that all the issues are resolved, Chairman of HARCON Plc, Mr. Mike Harris, made his way to the mecca of OW swimming and gave thanks.

In praise of LSD.

Posted on March 17, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

I get asked sometimes where I come up with the stuff that appears on this site – the less sane stuff, rather than the public service announcements. I’m not a bit shy about it – all the strange things that occur to me and get posted here are from when I’m on LSD.

Some people swear by Speed to get the blood pumping and creative juices flowing. Ned Denison, for instance, is a Speed Freak of the highest order. When I try Speed, I just lose the run of myself and flail around like a lunatic chicken. So, I stick with LSD – it’s calmer, less frenetic but still gets you there.

I find LSD takes me out of my normal setting and allows my thoughts to wander. Here’s me physically in the Carrigaline pool, but this is how I see myself in my head….

I can’t wait for the Summer – getting out in the open is better for LSD.

Sometimes, really strange thoughts do intrude. Ooooooh. Bad trip.

Overall, though, I have to say – LSD: I’d recommend it to anyone.

When One becomes Many.

Posted on March 16, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

The Fourth Aphorism of the Secret Doctrine of the Rosicrucians tells us that The One becomes Many. The Unity becomes Diversity. The Identical becomes Variety. Yet the Many remains One; the Diversity remains Unity; and the Variety remains Identical. Despite years of study, I didn’t have a notion what that meant, until it all became clear to me when I saw the pictures from the weekend. There was One… …..who became Many….. …..but still, as we say in Cork….there’s always one…. Gordon’s friend, Wilson, above is courtesy of Kieran Murphy. Another deep thinker, like myself.

Eilis Burns – March 19th

Posted on March 11, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

With a few cancellations, we have 45 booked for the evening, so if anyone else would like a place, please let me know – myrtlevilleswimmers@gmail.com. Just to note, while we say there are 50 places, there are only about 30 chairs, so this really is a standing-room only event!

Also, Eilis is travelling down from Dublin that evening. She expects to make it on time so 7.30pm is still the time. If there’s a small delay, Denis has been working on a tune for Gordon’s Ballad and will entertain the group with that 🙂

The Ballad of Gordon Adair.

Posted on March 8, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Former Sandycove swimmer and now committed Myrtlevillian, Gordon Adair, had a tough time recently when he tried to go back for a swim around the Island down West. He was met by some of the Desperados – Mister and The Bull. For them, you’re in or you’re out – and after breaking bread (or eating cake) in Myrtleville so regularly, they told Gordon – you’re out.

The confrontation was witnessed by a local songsmith and he composed these words to commemorate the events. I’m not sure of the tune – or even if it has one – but there’s definitely a John Spillane vibe to it (tuneless, in other words).

” Oh listen now and you shall hear of the trying times of Gordon Adair.

A Sandycove swimmer he thought that he was, until he met Breda and Marie and Ros.

They not only swam, but often they’d bake and Gordon Adair is a fiend for a cake.

He found himself often on Myrtleville’s shore – not lapping around Sandycove any more.

For breakfast he went and he loved the crack. As time it slipped by – would he ever go back?

“Sure no-one will notice and why should they care? I’ll be alright”, hoped Gordon Adair.

Oh now he was in for a mighty big land, for some Sandycove Swimmers his downfall had planned.

He left it a long time but then realised, he’d better go lapping or be criticised.

To the Island went Gordon to lap it in full, but waiting there for him – Mister and the Bull.

“We’ve seen you on FaceBook, you Myrtlevillian. You sold out the Island for brownies and flan.”

“You’re swimming there daily you traitor, Adair. You’ve even had one of those Hats on your hair.”

“You’re not swimming round here”, said they with a sneer – “But”, said poor Gordon, “I’m doing Windermere”.

“Ha,” says the Bull, “sure that’s only a Lake. You won’t need to train here – go back to your cake”.

Gordon Adair tried again to get in, but his hundred-lap hat, they put in the bin.

They did it to Gordon a lesson to teach. “Feck that”, says our hero, “I’m off to the Beach”.

To Myrtleville’s sands he pointed his way, hoping that this was a chocolate cake day.

So here ends the story of Gordon’s ordeal. He was badly treated, I’m sure we all feel.

But never fear people, the tide will go out and those desperados – he’ll see them about.

They’ll want to come swimming at our lovely beach and Gordon will charge them in tarts, made of peach.”

Gordon – overdoing the cake?

They feed him…..

…..and they wipe his face. Why would he go anywhere else?

The Denisians.

Posted on March 6, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

As he swims at 10.30 during the week, many of you may not be aware of the huge following Denis Condon has built up. It began when he was swimming alone, occasionally. Never one to shirk on safety, he invested in a swim float and deploys it on every swim.

Denis – before the Denisians arrived.

What he didn’t expect was the wave of followers who took his lead. Recognising that if the top athletes like Denis had a balloon, they should have one too, they flocked to the beach. Known to some as De Boys with De Buoys, they proudly identify themselves as The Denisians. Some days, you’d hardly get in the water with all the crowds he has down with him. There are so many, Denis had to give them numbers as he couldn’t remember their names.

Denis and Friends on a quiet Thursday in Myrtleville. I think someone should check how no. 513 and 552 are getting on.

Of course, no matter how many followers he gets and how exalted his status, there’s still the banes of his life to put up with. Mnás, Denis, Mnás.

Mnás – in action. No respect for De Man.

February – the coldest month. Crowds swimming.

Posted on March 4, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

The first year I swam in February was 2012 – in a wetsuit. I got brain freeze, followed by dizziness, followed by a sharp exit from the water after eight minutes (that had a bit to do with the seals in Adrigole Harbour too, but mostly the cold). Clearly (looking at the land temperatures table below), I was a total wimp. On average, February 2012 on land was way warmer than this year – so we can expect the sea was too!

Mean temperature in degrees Celsius for Cork_Airport

Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Annual
2015	5.4	4.8											5.1
2014	5.5	5.0	6.9	9.4	11.0	14.5	16.3	14.2	14.8	11.2	8.4	6.3	10.3
2013	6.0	5.1	4.3	7.4	10.0	13.5	17.3	15.3	13.5	11.9	6.7	6.4	9.8
2012	7.2	7.4	8.3	7.1	10.5	12.4	13.8	15.0	12.6	9.2	6.5	6.5	9.7
mean	5.6	5.7	6.9	8.4	10.9	13.5	15.3	15.2	13.3	10.5	7.8	6.1	9.9

My wimpiness in 2012 is confirmed by the many Myrtlevillians who made the decision to swim through the Winter this year and have taken any weather thrown at them. Dizziness? Brain freeze? No problem!! The coldest month is over and we now have up to twenty new year-round swimmers. Very well done to everyone. A few of the many pics Siobhan took during the month….