Mabon Swim

Posted on September 20, 2016 by myrtlevilleswimmers

The forecast is looking good for the first annual Myrtleville Mabon Dawn Swim – Thursday, September 22nd at 06.30.

WTF is he on about this time?

In the Northern Hemisphere, the September equinox (AKA Mabon) astronomically marks the start of Autumn. It is the time to respect the impending dark while giving thanks to the sunlight.

For meteorologists, on the other hand, Autumn begins about three weeks before the September equinox – on September 1.

However, after representations from Daniel Swagrzyk and Denis Condon, the Committee For Deciding When Autumn Starts (CFDWAS) agreed with them that September 1st only applied to the school teachers, so we’d ignore it. Sorry, Ruth etc but September 22nd it is.

Huge crowds are expected (maybe even more than the nine people there this morning) so park miles away and walk down, really quietly. Given the light this morning, it probably will be the last of the dawn swims for this year. The sun didn’t come up until after we’d got out today. Water was nice and warm, though.

equinox

Swimming vs. Pills in treating depression

Posted on September 16, 2016 by myrtlevilleswimmers

A couple of people mentioned this clip to me – from the BBC’s “The doctor who gave up drugs” programme. Interesting stuff – we all know the buzz OW swim gives and lots more people could and should be benefitting from it too.

Worth a watch – it’s only 3.32 long. Click the link below.

OW swimming as a treatment for depression – from the doctor who gave up drugs.

A bit of a do – Friday 23/9 @ 8.30 in Bunnyconnellan

Posted on September 14, 2016 by myrtlevilleswimmers

To celebrate the end of the Summer season (and launch the Winter one!), we’re having a gathering for a few drinks in Bunnyconnellan on Friday night, 23rd September. They’ve kindly held the back section of the restaurant for us from about 8.30, so there will be plenty of room. No charge, just buy your own drinks and there will be some finger foodie things too.

The evening’s meant to mark a lot of great successes at all levels for the many people who swim in Myrtleville. These range from first time swims to the Dutchman, Church Bay swims, Fountainstown returns, Galway, London, San Francisco, Copenhagen, Dover, Kerry – lots and lots of fun and success for lots and lots of Myrtleville swimmers. We might even be joined by some of the Sandycovers!

So, lets meet on the night and mark a great year so far, with other events like the Vampire Swim and the Turkey swims to come as the Winter begins.

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

Signage to be put up on Bunnyconnellan for the night.

The flag in jail

Posted on September 12, 2016 by myrtlevilleswimmers

In a dream come true for Eoin the Hacker, Mad Moz, The Bull and Mr. Finbarr, the flag has been locked up.

Fantastic picture of John Kiely in Alcatraz. That’s a keeper!

14224922_1142160072516903_1750561197496448879_n

Saturday Swim time change – 09.00

Posted on September 12, 2016 by myrtlevilleswimmers

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.

Alcatraz Swim

Posted on September 9, 2016 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Best of luck to John Kiely, swimming in the iconic Alcatraz swim in San Francisco tomorrow afternoon about 4pm.

Got The Hat and T-Shirt – all set.

John won’t be doing this alone of course. He has the complete support of Martina. I spoke to her one morning on the beach in Lanzarote and she was very clear that John should swim in as many events as possible – as long as they were places she wanted to go. She was 100% encouraging him to consider swims in locations like Barbados, Miami, the Maldives….She’ll be right behind him, on the sun lounger, on any of those swims 🙂

John and Martina - Alctraz here he comes.

John and Martina – Alcatraz here he comes. Next destination?

Good luck to the Kielys! Enjoy the trip.

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.

14183836_1519251234767425_8201476232575361856_n

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

Myrtleville Swimmers

Open Water – Sea Swimming in Cork, Ireland

Tag Archives: Open water swimming – Cork