Monday nights are back for 2017

The world-famous 6 pm Myrtleville Monday swims are recommencing on Monday, March 27th, once the clocks have sprung forward.

If you’re going to join the fun for the first time, be sure to read these various pieces of advice from experienced open water swimmers:

https://myrtlevilleswimmers.com/routes-and-safety/

If you’re an experienced open water swimmer – read them anyway.  No harm reminding ourselves that it’s ALL ABOUT SWIMMING SAFELY.

Let’s get the Summer started 🙂

Saturday Swim time change – 09.00

Heading into the Winter and after five years of 08.15 swims every Saturday morning, we’re going to move the regular time to 09.00.  This will give people a little longer in bed, if they want it!

Of course some swimmers will still be going earlier for work reasons etc. but the main group swim will be at 09.00 from now on.

Myrtleville Mondays – We’re Back!

The world-famous 6 pm Myrtleville Monday swims are recommencing on Monday, March 28th, once the clocks have sprung forward.

As Monday 28th is Easter Monday, there will probably be some other swims earlier in the day, but tradition is tradition so 6 pm it is – for anyone who is around. 

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

Last Monday swim, October 2015.

If you’re new to Myrtleville or returning after being out for a bit – please read this.

Never swim alone.  Always swim in groups. 

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

Swimming times – all year.

Myrtleville is a busy place for swimmers.  Some days – even weekdays – there are shifts of swimmers going in all day.  For newcomers, this post is an attempt to put some structure on when there are swims they can join.

We will not be publishing swim times weekly or monthly on this site.  This is the information for year-round swimming. See below for where you can see more regularly updated swim times.

1. Don’t swim alone but if you’ve got another swimmer or swimmers with you and are aware of the tides and weather, just pick your own time: enjoy and be careful.

2. Set Times:

There are two set swim times for the Summer and one for Winter.  If in doubt about when people will be swimming, these are the best bet, weather permitting:

Monday at 6.00 PM (From March to October) and Saturday at 8.15 AM (all year).

We’re a friendly bunch – come down and say hello, work out who you’ll swim with and get in!

3. Other Times:

To find out when other swims are going ahead during the week, you need to do one – or a few – of the following:

  • Join the WhatsApp group which a lot of swimmers use.  Get WhatsApp on your phone, then text your details to Aisling Barry and she’ll set you up – her number is zero eight six eight seven eight one seven two six.
  • Connect on Facebook with the Crosser Swimmers – Edging Insanity Group.  If that doesn’t work connect on FaceBook with Siobhan Russell –  Siobhan updates on swim times most days!
  • Follow @MyrtlevilleS on Twitter.
  • Email myrtlevilleswimmers@gmail.com – but don’t expect instant replies.

Your best plan is to get down on Monday or Saturday and ask around for who’s swimming when.  For instance, Denis Condon and a varying crew swim almost every day at 10.00am.  There are regularly 06.30 swims and so on….

 4. If you’re new to sea swimming, read this.

5. If you’re new to Myrtleville swimming (and even if you’re not!), read this.

Once more, with feeling: DON’T SWIM ALONE.  You’ve got lots of ways to find someone to swim with listed above.  Please use them.

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

Swim at your own risk.

The Dutchman

I just liked these two from Siobhan taken at this morning’s swim – makes it clear where the Hat design came from!

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Swim tomorrow at 07.00 for the Bunny Swim.  For leisurely folk (Denis etc.) there’s also going to be a 10.00 swim.  Why you’d bother is beyond me – sure, the day is over at that stage.

Monday Nights are back!

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).

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

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

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

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

Monday nights and Safe Swimming: Always.

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.

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

Swim at your own risk.

Swim times & Springtime.

A couple of people have been asking about this so, for February and into March, the Saturday 08.15 swim stays as the only one “cast in stone”.  Of course there are lots of other swims during the week, so check Twitter, Facebook or WhatsApp for these.  Or just make your own plans with a group!

The hour changes on Sunday, March 29.  So from 6.00pm on Monday, March 30……MYRTLEVILLE MONDAYS ARE BACK. This year, we’re going retro 🙂

Just another normal Myrtleville Monday swim.

Just another normal Myrtleville Monday swim.

For sneaky pre-season early morning swims, the week of March 23-27 has sunrise at 6.30am or before.  As in previous years, a few “earlies” will get slid in there, I’m sure.

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland

Denis Condon first into the water – Myrtleville sunrise on March 26, 2014

Then, with the hour change, we have to wait until the week commencing April 20th to see dawns at 6.30am or before.  From then on, it’s non-stop until October 25th!!

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

Usual rush to be first in the water.

So Monday at 6.00 and Saturday at 08.15 will stay and we’ll start to add the 06.15 swims from April onwards.  Yippee!!

Swim times – August / September

Lots of emails asking about swim times.  While there are many regulars on holidays, swims on Mondays at 6.00pm and Saturdays at 08.15 are the most likely ones to have groups assembling for anyone to join.

From August 13th, we’ll be back to normal 06.15 swims during the week as well.  So, from then to when the clocks change, we will aim for the following at least:

  • Monday: 18:00
  • Tuesday: 06:15
  • Friday: 06:15
  • Saturday: 08:15

These times can vary and are weather dependent, so definitely check in advance if you’re coming on your own.  Swim at your own risk. Don’t swim alone. Always swim in groups.

Always remember – swim safe.  Good information here for anyone swimming in Myrtleville.