CORAL8 – a Tribute.

Posted on September 8, 2016 by myrtlevilleswimmers

The next Corkonian Channel adventure is going to be a little different since – bar Maeve Mulcahy – all of the regular tracker-stalkers are actually going to be on the boat or in the water. CORAL8 head off – hopefully this weekend – to take a leisurely trip from England to France. The team is made up of – deep breath – Carol Cashell, Orla Houlihan, Riana Parsons, Angela Harris, Lisa Cummins, Maeve Ryan, Donna Galvin and Eleanor Courtney.

Determined not to interrupt G&T and cake time too much, team CORAL (originally Carol, Orls, Riana, Angela and Lisa) have packed in just about everyone available and expanded to CORAL8. This means nobody will be too incovenienced during the day out by having to actually swim much, thus missing the chat, banter and reverse tracking planned. Just imagine the social media that day – “You – over there in Cork – we can see you’re not following us!! What’s that about?? Stop working – we have…”

Inspired by news of the massive team headed for the Channel, noted culture vultures, Kieran Murphy and Siobhan Russell, collaborated to create this wonderful tribute. Seriously, it’s some piece of artwork. It’s such a good painting it’s almost like a photo – it’s the heads off our heroes, in fact.

Bottecelli's The Birth of Venus - as reimagined and restored by Kieranus Murphicelli

Bottecelli’s The Birth of Venus – as reimagined and restored by Kierani Murphicelli

Best of luck to the whole big, big team. You can follow them – surprise surprise – online on Facebook by clicking here and on Twitter @CORAL8_ . We can expect lots of progress updates with this group!

A Flock of Seagulls

Posted on September 6, 2016 by myrtlevilleswimmers

I’m usually a big fan of Siobhan’s work, but one of her latest pics really isn’t up to standard. This one is supposedly of A Flock of Seagulls – in fog by Roches Point.

A Flock of Seagulls? Ah, Siobhan!

In fairness, what’s the point of a picture of A Flock of Seagulls, if you can’t see Mike Score’s hair? That was the main selling point. Here’s a better one.

The Flock in their heyday. Who wouldn’t have wanted Mike Score’s hair?

Here they are on TOTP in 1982. De Berries.

Try and get more of a close-up next time, Siobhan.

Gougane Barra Results

Posted on September 5, 2016 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Very well done to all the Myrtlevillians in this year’s Gougane Barra swim. There were tough conditions on the day and with Breda Maguire hiding in the reeds in her kayak for shelter (her words, or something like that anyway), the swimmers were doing it for themselves – sisters and brothers.

The results from Tadhg Harrington are here: Gougane Barra Swim 2016

It was a tough day to be in the water and even tougher to get the timekeepers to let you out. Poor Shane Gannon.

Begging to be left out of the water at the swim on Saturday.

Finally the left him out! Good man, Shane.

Finally they left him out! Good man, Shane.

Also special mention from the weekend for Brenda Sisk. She followed up her Galway Bay Swim by going out foreign and completing the ~~inagral, inawgural, inugaral~~ first ever London Dock to Dock 10km swim. Great stuff, Brenda!

London Dock to Dock, Open water swimming, Cork, Ireland

Have flag, will travel. Brenda in London.

On to Schull next weekend, for all the swim event junkies.

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Gougane Barra Swim

Posted on August 29, 2016 by myrtlevilleswimmers

A reminder from Tadhg Harrington to get your entries in for the Gougane Barra Swim next Saturday, September 3rd at 4pm.

This is a 2.5km handicapped lake swim with a 4.5km option for those who can complete the course in 90mins or less.

Participants have to be capable of swimming 2.5km competently.

It’s an interesting fresh-water swim with good boat cover and shore monitoring, in one of Irelands most beautiful lakes, the source of the Lee.

To register, click here for the link.

Include an accurate time for 1km for handicapping purposes or your Lee Swim time.
Wetsuit or Togs?

Gougane Barra Swim – Route map

Keeping it real, down Myrtleville way

Posted on August 25, 2016 by myrtlevilleswimmers

The LoneSwimmer himself, Mr. Buckley, succumbed to a moment of pique a while back when confronted with the Lidl ad for togs. He threw down the goggles/gauntlet publicly (or on twitter anyway) and challenged the model to an open water swim. No response from the model.

The unwittingly offensive Lidl ad, with the non-responsive model who won't race LoneSwimmer.

The unwittingly offensive Lidl ad, with the non-responsive male model who won’t race the LoneSwimmer.

I was reminded of the LoneSwimmer’s challenge by another togs ad from H2Open:

More common or garden open water swimmers, like you’d see around the beach any day. Perhaps not our beach, though.

As the advertising industry is clearly interested in realistic portrayals of open water swimmers, I did a quick trawl of some of Siobhan Russell’s pictures. I’ve pasted below a suitable portfolio of models, all available to pose for togs ads at any time. Just come calling H2Open, Lidl et al – we’ve got what you need to shift togs by the bucket-load.

John and Frank – who wouldn’t want to buy their togs? John is available for assignments in the US while he’s over swimming to Alcatraz shortly.

Togs-R-Us - a range of options here for the ad agencies. As an aside, I bet not one of those Lidl and H2Open models could have kept up with Brenda for 13k across Galway Bay.

Togs-R-Us – a range of options here for the ad agencies. As an aside, I wonder how the models would have got on with Brenda for 13k across Galway Bay.

Festive togs market sown up by K. Murphy. Ad agencies beating down his door.

As Christmas products appear in shops already, the Festive togs advertising market should be sown up by K. Murphy. Ad agencies will be beating down his door. He’s already well know in the wetsuit marketing arena – Huub, specifically.

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

And finally, for any togs marketer looking to corner the grey dollar in togs – the main men for the mature market: Pat and Tom – keeping it real, 365 days a year.

All enquiries for modelling work for any of our portfolio above should be addressed to Condons’ Cuties Model Agency, Slip Top, Myrtleville, Cork.

Note: Models shown are for illustration only and may not be actual size, but they can all swim in the sea. Quite well, actually.

Foxy swim on Saturday, August 20th at 08.15

Posted on August 2, 2016 by myrtlevilleswimmers

From Joleen “Foxy Loxy” Cronin:

Hey guys, we put the Saturday 8.15am swim into the programme for the Irish Redhead Convention on 20 August. No idea how many keen redheads will turn up for a splash, but it would be really great if as many of us regulars can be there to welcome them to the beach and show them what’s what!

It’s the same day as Garnish island swim, but that’s happening later on that day, so hoping to have a few around in the morning. Thanks, much appreciated x

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Hat Holidays

Posted on July 30, 2016 by myrtlevilleswimmers

The Hat never rests – trotting the globe to keep Myrtlevillians company. Some keep it closer to home – the 40 Foot in Dublin, for instance.

The Hat at the 40 Foot in Dublin

Others head for more far-flung destinations. Around Europe….

The Hat at Lake Garda in Italy – brought Alan Wilkie along this time.

The Hat with Caroline O’Leary in Rotterdam – definitely not relaxing on holiday: – 4th in the world in Elite Class T3 Para Triathlon World Championships. Photo by Natalia Guzenko, from Triathlon Ireland site.

No matter how far it’s flung, the Hat keeps going.

The Hat with Eamonn Hughes in the Caribbean for his 50th!

It’s a bit of a cultural icon, really. Even in the Ganges.

The Hat with Claire Canning in the Ganges. Look at the local version of Siobhan Russell just behind her!

The Hat with Claire Canning in the Himalayas.

We’re not even in August yet. Wonder where else it will go this year?

Jellyfish in Myrtleville

Posted on July 28, 2016 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Siobhan Russell took this picture of a jelly about 100m off the beach this morning. Doesn’t look like a compass jelly – looks like a Lion’s Mane. Be careful out there, folks. We’d be delighted to hear from anyone who can tell us it’s not a Lion’s Mane, of course!!

No, this isn’t one of my jokes.

Lion’s Mane? Sighted in Myrtleville this morning. One to avoid.

Great day in Galway

Posted on July 25, 2016 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Congratulations to everyone involved in Galway on Saturday – swimmers and crew.

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Galway Girls – ready to go!

Posted on July 21, 2016 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Brenda Sisk and Marie Watson have left no stone unturned in their preparations for the Galway Bay swim next Saturday. While many of us have seen their efforts in the pool and sea right through last Winter, there’s more than just training needed to make a swim – and swimmer – successful. Thankfully, the Galway Girls seem to have it all in hand.

They’ve got the promotional posters and star paparazzi to record the events.

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They’ve got the nails painted aerodynamically and also to look good for the aforementioned paparazzi person.

Marie Watson – attention to detail is admirable.

They’ve had a kiss for good luck from the main man, Mr. Redmond (Brenda has to share it – Marie grabbed it).

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Finally, they’ve recognised the risk that their spirits may flag in mid-swim, so they’ve employed the services of Ann “The ~~Dominator~~ Motivator” Smyth as crew.

I’d keep swimming if I was ye, girls. Ann Smyth as boat crew…

Barbara Anne Richardson and Brendan O’Brien are going for the swim on Saturday too – but I didn’t have incriminating photos of them, so they’ll have to make do with “Good Luck!!”. Good luck to all four, in fact 🙂

Myrtleville Swimmers

Open Water – Sea Swimming in Cork, Ireland

Tag Archives: Open water swimming – Cork – Ireland