Tag Archives: Open water swimming – Cork

14 February – Denis’s Day.

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This 14th of February, let’s give due homage to the Valentinest Valentine of them all.

Denis.  One name – that’s all that’s needed.  Like Pele. Bono. Rasputin. Prince.  One name – a single word – and everyone knows who you mean.  His fame abounds.  That one name conjures up the images.  Female admirers flock to see him swim.  Meet him.  Be with him. Warm him, post-swim. 

Some use other single words to describe him.  Casanova. Charmer. Langer (they’re just jealous fellas, Denis – don’t mind them: it’s seeing the queue for a spin in the Yaris that drives the other men mad).Yes, of course, there are begrudgers.  No man with such a magnetic attraction for d’opposite sex could avoid the envy of other, less sensually successful men.  As his adoring mnás surround him each day, the other men wonder, “how does he do it”? 

How does he have them flock to him, while he loudly laments, “Ye’re all ancient. ‘Tis young wans we want down here, not a load of ould cougars.  Young wans, I’m tellin’ye. The rest of ye can bring de buns, though, then go down the slip out of sight of the newer models.  We need upgrades around here.”

How does he survive – and thrive?  “Treatin dem mean, to keep dem keen, like.” And yet – still they come to pay homage.  Feeding him.  Lauding him with buns. Amazing.  He must have phenomenal pheromones.

Let’s not wonder too much.  Let’s just learn from him, lads.  Acknowledge and admire him.  His is the way, the truth and the light.  Follow the path of Denis and the rich Bounties of life will be yours too (or if not Bounties, some nice buns at least).  Denis’s Day.  One to celebrate.  Get up, ya good thing.

Volunteers needed – always. Let’s work together.

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It’s a great time of year for planning which swims to enter over the Summer.  Some are taking entries already and Carol Cashell is putting the Munster OWS Calendar together (thanks, Carol 🙂 ).  

While you’re making your plans, give some thought to helping out at one of the swims.  Most swims are very glad to get offers of help – registering, timekeeping, parking, kayaking, boat-support – the list of jobs goes on and as numbers of entrants rise, more volunteers are needed.  

Here’s a blast of Canned Heat to get you in the volunteering mood.

All pictures thanks to Siobhan Russell.

Seal attacks!!! Kindof. Sorta. Maybe, like.

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Consternation in Myrtleville this morning!  Kerfuffle! Discombobulation! Mad stuff altogether.

I was plodding along out by the corner at Bunnyconnellan when I saw three swimmers approaching.  At speed.  I mean – speed.  It was the intrepid trio of Bernie, Jim and Trev.  I turned around to head back to the beach – with them about 200 metres behind me.  I was 500m out.  As you can see from the first picture below (that’s me there in the distance on the left) they passed me – at speed, like – and were a good 200m ahead of me hitting the beach. 

Now, I’m slow.  I know that.  I’m fine with it.  I’m not that slow, though.  They’re not more than twice as fast as me.  Not on a normal day.  This was NOT a normal day.  The trio – they shouted – had suffered repeated, vicious, co-ordinated and just generally feckin awful seal attacks by up to nine seals.  It started at two but they were definitely talking about nine by the end of it.  I didn’t see any myself.  Must have been going too slowly.

I think the second picture below is Trevor explaining how close they had come to near death at the hands of Sealus Attackus Beastus.  Either that or he’s saying how big the seal was – which would take a bit away from the drama of the attack, to be honest, if it was that size.  I say IT, but I mean THEM – THEM, dozens of THEM.  You can see Bernard staring out to sea anxiously in case THEY were coming on still.  Terrifying, like.  No way was it just a couple of ould seals out for a quiet swim.  No way.  Attack.  Definitely an attack.

Despite their horrific experience, the trio posed for a picture with a fan (sound, lads) and then made their way shakingly up the beach, discussing googling “Seal Attacks” and whether warning signs should be put up.  Mad stuff.  Mad.

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE! Watch out for dogfish too.  Now THEY are vicious, I can tell ya that.  Don’t start me about dogfish.

RNLI Swim 2018 – Photos

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Thanks to Siobhan Russell for her fantastic work, as always.  For those of you who may not have access to these on Facebook, click on the link to see all the photos from the night:

RNLI Myrtleville-Church Bay 2018 Photos

Here’s a picture of the winner, Neddie Irwin.

Open Water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland

Neddie Irwin with Gary Heslin, RNLI and Bernard Lynch

Oh wait, that’s an old one.  That was 2013 when he did it in 33.22 and finished 18th – the youngest swimmer in the event.  He knocked a bit off that time this year to 22.15.  He must have done a bit of training for the past five years. And stretching.

Roll on 2019.  Hopefully without any wind-enforced postponements.

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped and the sponsors – the RNLI, Coast Guard, Gardai, Order of Malta, Funkytown, Sports Timing, Port of Cork, Centra Crosshaven, Cronin’s Pub, The Edge Sports, Happy Pear and numerous fantastic individuals without whom nothing could run.  All of your time and efforts are greatly appreciated.  Thanks to you all.

Rescheduled swim tonight

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All entries from Tuesday’s swim still stand.  Thanks to those who have advised they can’t make the rescheduled event tonight.  We hope to see you next year!

All entrants will receive an email this morning with the participant information.  It is posted here also for convenience – just click the link.

Rescheduled RNLI Myrtleville to Church Bay Swim 2018 – Participant Information

Green for Go – Registration from 18.00 this evening, Thursday, July 5th.

Swimmer Safety – Danger from boats

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A potentially fatal accident was narrowly averted on Monday night around 7pm as a RIB travelling at 28 knots came across a swimmer way off the beach and in the middle of the Western commercial shipping corridor into/out of Cork harbour.  That’s well outside the line to the Dutchman or Bunny’s, if you’re not aware. The swimmer was in a wetsuit and had a black hat.  No buoy.   No brightly coloured hat.  Nothing.  If it had not been flat calm, the skipper would not have seen him.  He had no expectation that there would be anyone in the water that far out.  There should not be.

I’ve no idea who the swimmer was.  The RIB skipper who contacted us about the incident used a very good line that I’ll reproduce here.  Don’t take offence.  He’s 100% right and he went to some trouble to document the incident and make contact about it.

“while your swimming community may think that they are at the centre of the universe the majority of people in sailing clubs and other boat users have absolutely no idea that you guys even exist and those that do see you as “water pests” in much the same way that a lot of road users view cyclists.”

Why put yourself in danger by going out too far, not using a buoy or not wearing a high-vis hat, at the very least?

We’ve been saying this for years.  We are each responsible for our own safety.  Be responsible.   Please, listen and spread the word.

https://myrtlevilleswimmers.com/2013/05/31/stay-safe-swim-safe/

RNLI Myrtleville to Church Bay entries filling fast

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The forecast is looking good.  Time to make sure you’re in.  There are about 40 places left and they’re moving fast.

Get in now: enter now online on Active.

Don’t end up loitering on the beach shouting “anyone selling a ticket???” or with one of those “genuine swimmer seeks ticket” signs.  They’re really sad.  Get entered.  Don’t be at the mercy of the touts.  Especially since there are NO entries on the night and NO transferring places.  Don’t be fooled 🙂

Entries close at 13.00 on MONDAY, JULY 2nd OR WHEN WE REACH 300 IF THAT’S SOONER.

Get in vogue

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Trendsetters, that’s what we are down Myrtleville way.  I read Karl Henry in the Indo today…..“Get your togs on and jump in. Swimming in the sea is back in vogue”.  

Just what we dreamed of – to be “in vogue”.  Often we’ve marvelled as our style influencers shiver down the slip sashay down the catwalk in Myrtleville on a February morning with the crowds ooohing and aaahing about the latest look and how to “work it” – all the mnás gasping “oh, Denis/Daniel/Pat, you’re sooooo voguey with your big, BIG, orange float”.  Swoon, like – swoon.  Style and In-Vogue-ness, that’s what sea swimming is all about for us.

All vogued-up activities have to have a Season of course – Henley, Ascot, that kind of thing.  We’ve got the RNLI Myrtleville to Church Bay Swim on July 3rd, where fashions will be flaunted, style icons will point the way to the latest trends in togs and goggles and there’ll be a general level of vogueidity that even Anna Wintour couldn’t keep up with.

Influencers worth following – two men who never realised what trendsetters they were- or how much they were “in vogue”.  Will be signing autographs at the RNLI swim.

Don’t miss the most voguey event of the year – enter now on Active. It’ll be very much like this video, I’d say.  Any chance of a flash-mob, Joanne?