2024 Event:
The 2024 Myrtleville Swimmers’ Myrtleville to Church Bay 2km open water sea swim will take place on Monday, June 10, 2024 at 7.30 pm.
Enter here: 2024 Myrtleville to Church Bay Swim Entries open from March 1st.
If for safety reasons June 10th has to be postponed, the back-up date is Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at 8.00 pm. If this date can not proceed, all entry fees will be donated. No refunds will be issued.
This is a challenging 2km swim in open water conditions from Myrtleville Beach to Church Bay.
All participants must be able to verify a minimum of one 1,500m open water swim in 2024 and/or be a previous participant in this event. We strongly recommend you have done a longer distance – or several 1,500m swims in 2024. This is a fantastic, but challenging swim and not to be attempted without proper preparation.
Email us – myrtlevilleswimmers@gmail.com or watch this site for updates.
2023 Event:
The 2023 Myrtleville Swimmers’ Myrtleville to Church Bay 2km open water sea swim in aid of the RNLI will take place on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at 7.00 pm.
THIS EVENT IS FULL. WE HAVE A WAITING LIST HERE:
ENTRY FORM AND WAITING LIST 2023
Participant Information for 2023
If for safety reasons June 21st has to be postponed, the back-up date is Friday, June 23rd, 2023 at 7.30 pm. If this date can not proceed, all entry fees will be donated to the RNLI. No refunds will be issued.
This is a challenging 2km swim in open water conditions from Myrtleville Beach to Church Bay.
All participants must be able to verify a minimum of one 1,500m open water swim in 2023 and/or be a previous participant in this event. We strongly recommend you have done a longer distance – or several 1,500m swims in 2023. This is a fantastic, but challenging swim and not to be attempted without proper preparation.
Email us – myrtlevilleswimmers@gmail.com, follow on twitter @MyrtlevilleS or watch this site for updates.
2022 Event:
The 2022 Myrtleville Swimmers’ Myrtleville to Church Bay 2km open water sea swim in aid of the RNLI will take place on Thursday, June 16, 2022 at 7.00 pm.
Entries are FULL.
https://myrtlevilleswimmers.niftyentries.com/RNLI-Myrtleville-Church-Bay-Swim
If for safety reasons June 16th has to be postponed, the back-up date is Friday, July 1st, 2022 at 7.00 pm. If this date can not proceed, all entry fees will be donated to the RNLI. No refunds will be issued.
This is a challenging 2km swim in open water conditions from Myrtleville Beach to Church Bay.
All participants must be able to verify a minimum of one 1,500m open water swim in 2022 and/or be a previous participant in this event. We strongly recommend you have done a longer distance – or several 1,500m swims in 2022. This is a fantastic, but challenging swim and not to be attempted without proper preparation.
Email us – myrtlevilleswimmers@gmail.com, follow on twitter @MyrtlevilleS or watch this site for updates.
2021 Event: There is no swim planned for 2021.
2020 Event:
UPDATE: 22 June, 2020
The July 8th event is cancelled.
The RNLI swim to Church Bay won’t go ahead on July 8th. It’s more than likely that we would have 200+ people on the beach, so that means waiting until after July 20th, at least.
As previously notified, we aren’t going to have a timed event this year. We have now also decided to try to tie in a swim event with the arrival of the new buoys (supposedly mid-July, based on latest updates from the supplier). That means (shock/horror), we won’t be having an event that goes from Myrtleville to Church Bay. Instead, we will have a more relaxed lap-of-the-buoys event. We will probably have a bucket for donations to the RNLI, but will not have pre-event entries.
Anyone who has entered through Nifty Entries for July 8 will receive an email in the coming week or so about their options on the entry fee paid.
We will probably schedule the event at a week’s notice, once the buoys are in and the weather is favourable.
For the swim to Church Bay – tune in next year 🙂
UPDATE 19 May, 2020:
We don’t have certainty about whether our planned event on July 8th will be allowed to go ahead, or if we – more likely – will have to defer to later in the year. However, we do still plan to run it at the earliest possible opportunity – note the positivity 🙂 – and have decided we’re going to do so as a non-timed swim. That will allow us more flexibility in organising and not hold our timing partners to a date, when we can’t guarantee it will run.
Whenever restrictions are lifted and it’s safe to do so, we aim to organise the swim this year as more of a “welcome back” for all of us deprived of our time in the sea, rather than a race. For now, please stay safe and observe the health guidance.
Original plan – pre-Covid19:
The 2020 RNLI Myrtleville to Church Bay 2km open water sea swim will take place on Wednesday July 8th, 2020 at 7.00 pm.
Entries will open in March and will close at 14.00 on Tuesday, July 7th, 2020.
If for safety reasons July 8th has to be postponed, the back-up date is Thursday, July 9th, 2020 at 7.00 pm. If this date can not proceed, all entry fees will be donated to the RNLI. No refunds will be issued.
This is a challenging 2km swim in open water conditions from Myrtleville Beach to Church Bay, with majestic views of Roches Point lighthouse, the entrance to Cork Harbour and the odd cruise liner, oil tanker or navy vessel passing by.
All participants must be able to verify a minimum of one 1,500m open water swim in 2020. We strongly recommend you have done a longer distance – or several 1,500m swims. This is a fantastic, but challenging swim and not to be attempted without proper preparation. If you want to practice, come to Myrtleville any Monday night at 6pm (from Monday, March 30th, 2020 or Saturday mornings at 09.00 – all year round.
There’s no excuse not to get some practice sessions in!
Email us – myrtlevilleswimmers@gmail.com, follow on twitter @MyrtlevilleS or watch this site for updates.
2019 Event:
The 2019 RNLI Myrtleville to Church Bay 2km open water sea swim will take place on Thursday, June 20th, 2019 at 7.00 pm.
Entries are open – here: https://myrtlevilleswimmers.niftyentries.com/RNLI-Swim and will close at 14.00 on Wednesday, June 19th, 2019.
If for safety reasons June 20th has to be postponed, the back-up date is Thursday, July 4th, 2019 at 6.30 pm. If this date can not proceed, there will be no event in 2019 and all entry fees will be donated to the RNLI.
This is a challenging 2km swim in open water conditions from Myrtleville Beach to Church Bay, with majestic views of Roches Point lighthouse, the entrance to Cork Harbour and the odd cruise liner, oil tanker or navy vessel passing by.
All participants must be able to verify a minimum of one 1,500m open water swim in 2019. We strongly recommend you have done a longer distance – or several 1,500m swims. This is a fantastic, but challenging swim and not to be attempted without proper preparation. If you want to practice, come to Myrtleville any Monday night at 6pm (from Monday, April 1st, 2019) or Saturday mornings at 09.00 – all year round.
There’s no excuse not to get some practice sessions in!
Email us – myrtlevilleswimmers@gmail.com, follow on twitter @MyrtlevilleS or watch this site for updates.
2018 Event:
The RESCHEDULED 2018 RNLI Myrtleville to Church Bay (entrance to Cork Harbour) 2km open water sea swim will take place on Thursday, July 5th, 2018 at 8.00 pm.
Entries are closed.
Rescheduled RNLI Myrtleville to Church Bay Swim 2018 – Participant Information
The 2018 RNLI Myrtleville to Church Bay (entrance to Cork Harbour) 2km open water sea swim was cancelled due to weather conditions for Tuesday, July 3rd, 2018 at 7.00 pm.
Entries are now open on Active and will close at 13.00 on Monday, July 2nd.
2017 Event:
The RESCHEDULED 2017 RNLI Myrtleville to Church Bay (entrance to Cork Harbour) 2km open water sea swim will take place on Thursday, July 13th, 2017 at 7 pm.
Participants must have submitted their entry online. We can’t accept entries on the day.
Entries are online with Active. Take note of the No Refunds policy – we’re donating entries to the RNLI.
ENTRIES WILL CLOSE (YES, CLOSE AND NOT OPEN AGAIN – EVEN IF YOU JUST FORGOT) AT 13.00 ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 12TH).
This is a challenging 2km swim in open water conditions from Myrtleville Beach to Church Bay, with majestic views of Roches Point lighthouse, the entrance to Cork Harbour and the odd cruise liner, oil tanker or navy vessel passing by.
All participants must be able to verify a minimum of one 1,500m open water swim in 2016. We strongly recommend you have done a longer distance – or several 1,500m swims. This is a fantastic, but challenging swim and not to be attempted without proper preparation. If you want to practice, come to Myrtleville any Monday night at 6pm (from Monday March 27, 2017) or Saturday mornings at 09.00 – all year round.
There’s no excuse not to get some practice sessions in!
Email us – myrtlevilleswimmers@gmail.com, follow on twitter @MyrtlevilleS or watch this site for updates.
2016 Event:
The 2016 RNLI Myrtleville to Church Bay (entrance to Cork Harbour) 2km open water sea swim took place on Saturday 18th, June at 3.00 pm.
Alternative viewpoints on the event 🙂
2015 Event:
The re-scheduled 2015 RNLI Myrtleville to Church Bay (entrance to Cork Harbour) 2km open water sea swim took place on Saturday 15th August at 5.00pm.
RNLI Myrtleville-Church Bay Swim 2015 – Results – August 15 2015
2014 Event:
The 2014 RNLI Myrtleville to Church Bay (entrance to Cork Harbour) 2km open water sea swim took place on Saturday 28th, June at 5.30pm.
Alternative Race Review and Photos.
2013 Report:
It was an absolutely fantastic event on Saturday, September 21st at 5.30pm, with a challenging sea bringing the best out of all 101 swimmers. We had an incredible performance from the winner, Ethan O’Brien, in a time of 24:43.
Carol Cashell continued her winning streak with third place overall and first lady in 28:25.
Special mention also for Neddie Irwin, age 10, who finished in 33:22 for 18th place overall, leaving lots of big names in his wake.
All swimmers came in under 55 minutes, supported throughout by the RNLI, Civil Defence, Coast Guard, Funkytown kayakers and numerous volunteers in boats, kayaks and on land who gave their time and equipment freely. Thank you very much to everyone.
Over €1,200 was raised for the RNLI – and that is what it’s all about.
Siobhan Russell took hundreds of pictures and these are online here.
Howard Crowdy also has a gallery of pictures, some of which were published in a full-page Evening Echo report on October 5th. Howard’s pictures are here.
2012 Race Report
Chris Mintern and Carol Cashell made it three wins in three years at the third annual Myrtleville to Church Bay Swim, held last weekend in glorious Summer sunshine.
76 swimmers took part this year with various levels of open sea swimming, ranging from seasoned English Channel swimmers to relative novices. The winner crossed the finish line in 28.20, over two minutes ahead of Ned Denison and Owen O’Keeffe in third with Carol Cashell the first lady home and fourth place overall on 32.25.
Conditions were described as ‘challenging’ as a North West blew into the faces of the swimmers as they turned the headland. This became even more difficult for the slower swimmers who had to contend with the tide turning against them after an hour – so much so that only 50 completed the 2 kilometre course with 26 retiring, finding the swim a little too demanding this year.
Speaking at the prize giving ceremony which was held in the Crosshaven RNLI station afterwards, event organiser Bernard Lynch went on to congratulate all of the swimmers in taking part in the event, raising funds for the local RNLI. He thanked the co-operation and assistance from members of the RNLI, Coast Guard, committee members, supporters and members of Funkytown Kayaks at Myrtleville who followed the competitors along the course. Seventeen year old Chris Mintern , an experienced swimmer and triathlon competitor, who won the Monkstown triathlon only last week, claimed his third title in a row, as did seasoned competitor Carol Cashell.
Click here for pictures, courtesy of Howard Crowdy:
Results
No. Name Time
58 Chris Mintern 28.20
6 Ned Denison 30.30
8 Owen O’Keeffe 32.05
60 Carol Cashell 32.25
62 Jen Schumacher 34.00
43 Ray McCardle 34.30
47 Paraic Casey 41.30
29 Lizzie Lee 42.30
63 Jonathan O’Reagan 42.52
51 James Cleary 45.05
32 Brian O’Shea 47.00
31 Paul Kelleher 48.40
68 Liam Maher 52.30
24 Alan McGuinness 54.00
9 Declan O’Keeffe 55.05
45 Tim Smyth 55.08
61 Eleanor Courtney 55.40
17 Damian O’Neill 56.00
40 Fergus Galvin 56.10
67 John F. Walsh 56.25
30 Liadh Hourihane 56.55
76 Conor McCarthy 59.00
36 Niall Vaughan 1h 01.30
64 Orla 1h 02.15
66 Niamh O’Connor 1h 02.15
53 Tom McCarthy 1h 02.40
41 David Merriman 1h 04.00
21 Martin Bohane 1h 04.45
16 Noel Finegan 1h 04.50
28 Kevin Power 1h 05.25
13 Joanne Conroy 1h 06.30
23 Sally Kelly 1h 06.35
56 Frank Kelleher 1h 08.00
44 Rory Galvin 1h 08.00
37 James Collins 1h 08.20
5 Finbar Hedderman 1h 14.30
59 Pat O Reagan 1h 19.40
1 Imelda Lynch 1h 21.05
2 Oswald Schmidt 1h 21.10
15 Shane Finegan 1h 22.20
4 Tadhg Harrington 1h 23.19
27 Maeve Mulcahy 1h 24.25
57 Peter O’Mahony 1h 25.00
54 Ray Huxley 1h 25.40
74 James Brennan 1h 28.00
26 Robbie Rickson 1h 28.20
50 George Fuller 1h 31.00
20 Mairead O’Reilly 1h 34.00
35 Maire Marshall 1h 34.00
19 Aideann O’Leary 1h 34.10
Did not finish:
75 James McCullagh
71 Brian Murphy
22 Stephanie Mendell
65 Sara O’Riordan
42 Conor Coughlan
39 Brian Lenihan
49 Riana Parsons
72 Fiona Foley
34 Cornelius Marshell
33 Ita Kirwan
11 Kevin Lynch
12 Jane Kirrane
25 Eleanor Moore
52 David Keating
48 Conor Power
3 Declan O’Hanlon
46 Sam Russell
7 Colm O’Leary
18 Daithi O’Reilly
10 Dave Mulcahy
38 Andrea Newport
55 Paul Twohig
69 Rob Holland
70 Sean Foley
73 Nigel Carole
2010 Event:
Summary of times:
Myrtleville Swimmers 
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