With the water temperatures heading up beyond 16, Jellies were very much in evidence on Saturday morning.  In what might be considered a slight overreaction, emergency services were called when one swimmer got four stings.  These particular emergency servants were, however, immediately distracted by the sight of a camera and only made vague shapes to find the stricken swimmer.  Left to his own devices, he resorted to dousing himself with vinegar and being chased by dogs who thought he was a chip.

Emergency? Count on us! Oh, look Audrey, a camera – cheeeeese!

Diligently searching in one direction for the victim – while posing, of course.

And now the other direction….A thoroughly complete, professional response and lovely clean uniforms.

A new swimmer got hooked on the sea on Saturday.  Maria from Almeria came down with Myrtleville regular Roz O’Brien.  She went in with a wetsuit on, came out and ditched it after 5 minutes and did another 40 minutes in togs.  We told her it’s this warm all year round.

Maria del Mar Ruiz Martinez, Carmen Burns, Roz O’Brien & Anne Sheehy.

6pm today, Monday.  06.15 tomorrow, Tuesday morning.  Swim Safe!

Lots of groups in on Monday night, even with so many away on holidays or at Ned’s camp.  Sea temp is hovering around 14c, which we’d be delighted with if we hadn’t had 18+ a few weeks back!

6pm group on Monday night.

Some people, though, they’re just a cut above all this rushing out to the Dutchman.  If it’s not 8km or so, they just don’t bother…

Too cool for this short swimming lark – Denis catches some rays in Myrtleville after his Loch Allua 8km on Sunday.

Swimming 06.15 Thursday and Friday and 08.15 Saturday.  Swim Safe. Swim often 🙂

We had a visitor from Edinburgh during the week, over to see Paolo Nutini in the Marquee and looking for a quick fix of saline.  Sarah Morton swims with The Wild Ones, a year-round group based on Portobello Beach in Edinburgh.  Compared to the North Sea, she thought our 13c was very pleasant.   They have access to showers in a local pool after their swims and have had unsuspecting newcomers faint, coming from the sea and into the hot shower.  That’s the advantage of having no facilities at our swimming spots here in Cork – no fainting!

Husband, Geoff Earl, is chairman of Tri Scotland but he restricted himself to the beach in preparation for his big night out, which ended in the bar with Paolo himself.  Successful trip to Cork 🙂

Sarah Morton from the Wild Ones, who swim from Portobello Beach in Edinburgh, takes centre stage on Myrtleville beach.

On the travelling front, James Slowey sent provocative pictures from Florida.  Really, though, the Keys are sooo last year – everyone seems to be there : James, Carol & five more etc etc. It’s like Crosshaven at this stage.

Only 31c in the water on Siesta Beach for Mr. Slowey. Chilly.

Fair enough, he’s holding up the Hat, but it might as well be two fingers – ‘I’m on the beach in Floriday, Nah, Nah, Na, Na, Nah’.

Good luck to everyone in the Lee Swim today!

The was a huge crowd swimming last night between 5.30 and 7.30, but Siobhan took a night off to enjoy her own swim – so the only picture was the one below of the Chatting Cashell sisters.  Apparently they could be heard from the beach all the way to the Dutchman and back again. They had twelve days of news to catch up on, after Carol’s winning trip to the Swim around Key West.

Eleanor & Carol take a break from chatting.

Nice to see Eleanor displaying a Myrtleville hat in the picture.  Carol took one to Florida with her – but forgot to take a picture with it, so she sent on the one below which she claims is Key West.  Anyone can see that it’s the wall by the campsite in Owenahincha, with a couple of trees photoshopped in.  Nice try, Carol 🙂

The Hat in Keynahincha.

RTE have long shown their devotion to Myrtleville, with their use of our picture on the Weather Forecast most evenings.

RTE Sport have now come on board and Pat Horgan (gwan ya good ting, Pat!) was the first recipient of the new-look Man of the Match Hat, which the Sunday Game have adopted.   Bernard Lynch was on hand in Thurles to make the award.

B. Lynch presents Pat Horgan with his Man of the Match Hat for his fantastic performance against Clare.

“Brightens up your day”, wha’?  As the fella says, “Nothing Beats Being There” – no doubt referring to Myrtleville. 🙂

Heard from a triathlete at the practice swims for TriMonkstown at the weekend – “Do you have to wear a wetsuit?  I’m roasted.”  The water is headed for 17c (16.6c at the moment) and it’s a joy!  Fantastic swims at the weekend with huge crowds in Garnish and still enough swimmers around for groups going out from Myrtleville, Monkstown and Mallorca.

Pat’s Hat on Ironman training in Mallorca – I think that’s a yellow hat blowing away in the background and landing in……

Landed…..The Hat goes to Garnish – with Carmen Burns, Maria Foley, Audrey Burkley & Anne Sheehy.  Then off to…..

Lough Hyne…..A very fit looking Steve Redmond crowns all his achievements with a new Hat.

The Hat made one more very important stop yesterday, but I’ll have to post that one separately.  Worth waiting for.

Enjoy the fantastic weather, and SWIM SAFE.  I’m sure there will be lots of extra swims for different groups, but the normal ones of 6.00pm today, 06.15 Tuesday and Friday mornings and Saturday at 08.15 will be on in Myrtleville.  The only downside to the weather is that getting close to the beach any evening will be difficult.  It’s going to be mobbed.

Feeling the need for a little sun, with things being overcast at home, The Hat took itself off to the beach in Turkey.  Lifestyles of the rich and famous, I suppose.

The Hat goes to Turkey.

The water has warmed up a lot and with the Summer swims and Triathlons in full swing, there’s a constant flow of people on the beach.  Entries are coming in steadily for the RNLI Myrtleville – Church Bay swim on June 28.  Enter now, if you haven’t done so! Swim Safe, whenever you swim.

The water was really warm on Monday – up towards 15c, but with lots of waves in the SE wind.  A good crowd still got in for a splash and fun.

The Wall of Weed.

Past the seaweed barrier and into the waves.

The showers introduced by Denis have really become popular.

The queue for the showers in Myrtleville is nothing if not orderly.

Swim Safe! Swim often 🙂