February is the coldest month of the year for sea swimming, but you couldn’t tell with the numbers who have kept going this year through the Winter.  A big gang in early on Saturday morning and three groups during the day on Sunday.  Why not, when it looks like this as Siobhan Russell captured..

Myrtleville dawn: February 7th, 2015

Lisa Cummins, as the only Irish person to swim the English Channel two-way, is a bit of a legend and a world-class cold water swimmer.  It’s fair to say it gives everyone a bit of heart when you see her dipping her toe in and saying “eeeeeeekkk” – quietly.  Carol Cashell made sure she didn’t miss the moment for a good smirk too!

You have to grab your chances with a visit from someone of Lisa’s experience, so two Myrtlevillain channel aspirants – Kieran Murphy and Anne Sheehy – seized the day and swam the sand channel under Lisa’s guidance.

Lisa carefully coached them in the finer points of the channel-swimming stroke while they crossed the great divide and Riana got it on film.

Kieran was celebrating with everyone afterwards.  A lifetime goal achieved. 

 Up the Rebels and Viva Myrtleville! 🙂

Announced tonight at the Irish Long Distance Swimming Association Awards Dinner.  Thanks to everyone who voted for us to win the ILDSA MARGARET SMITH AWARD – for a group who increased the profile of open water swimming.

NOTE: All future references to us – online or otherwise – must now be to:

 “The Award Winning Myrtleville Swimmers ™ ® ©.”

Licence fees for use of our name, images and overall aura and mystique will be collected by Condon Credit Control Ltd. (slogan: “Pay up or we’ll shower you in s**te.”).

Keep swimming and increasing the profile 🙂

Great plans are being made for a swim from Graball to Crosshaven during the Summer.   Lots of us have been to Church Bay – if you continued on you would round Weaver’s Point and be at Graball.  From there you swim past Camden and around the corner into Crosshaven.  A nice swim with the tide coming in, to push you along.

Graball to Crosshaven – aerial view.

Swimming in Graball has some considerable history.  The picture below is from 1934.

Ocean swimming in Graball Bay in 1934. The winner of this race, held under the auspices of the Munster Branch of the IASA, was Richard Jones, captain of the Dolphin Swimming Club.

There was a swimming club and changing rooms there in the 1920s and 30s.

Image of decline. The remnants of the former Crosshaven Swimming Club at Graball. It went into disrepair following the closure of the Cork – Crosshaven railway line. Pic. F. Schoonbaert

Of course William Lawrence included it in his collection around 1905.

Nice to see Myrtleville Swimmers making plans to bring some swimming back there again.  Roll on the Summer!

I know for real historians and locals I am glossing over the history of swimming in Graball / Crosshaven.  If there are other pictures or information that anyone has, I’d be delighted to get them and share them.

Siobhan Russell goes to huge efforts to take pictures at almost every swim during the year.  With help from Joleen Cronin, they then put together a collage of photographs from the swimming year.  Here’s the 2014 edition.  Some pictures from Gearoid, Gordon and others, but the bulk from Siobhan.

After lots of fails to get this online in one piece, thankfully someone techie (or at least devoted and willing to give the time!) managed to work it out.  Well done, Dave Russell.

Settle down with a coffee…

Thanks from everyone, Siobhan.   Swimming in Myrtleville just wouldn’t be the same without you.

The Myrtleville Warm-Up Dance Troupe has a long and storied history.  Unusually for a Warm-Up act, they actually perform after the main event.  Led by the twinkle-toed maestro himself, Bernie L, the troupe can be seen performing around Myrtleville beach after every swim during the Winter.

Possibly the most famous incarnation of the troupe was the glory days of Bernie and Fast Eddie.

Myrtleville Warm-Up Dance Troupe when they were on top of the world – go, Eddie, go, go, go….

Unfortunately, a non-dance-related injury has sidelined Eddie, so a new member was needed.  Jumpin’ J Slowey has a strong background in solo dance himself, so he was selected to see how he could perform in the team environment.

Not unknown for his moves, Jumpin’ J seemed to be the right fit for the Troupe.

It’s tough to step into big shoes, so the first sessions with the new boy didn’t really hit the heights expected of the Troupe.  The flow just wasn’t there.

Jumpin’ J gives it his best shot at the first outing. You can see Bernie’s not convinced.

However, practice is what it’s all about, so a week later there were definite improvements.

Bernie’s smiling and Jumpin’ J is clearly getting into the role, but it’s too much for just two men.

After some consultation, it was decided to expand the troupe membership.  They will conduct open auditions next Saturday, to see who might be able to make the step up to the big leagues and join Bernie and J.

Despite anti-Mná lobbying by Denis, female swimmers are not just welcome but positively encouraged to audition.  Some of them have great moves to add to the troupe repertoire.

Let’s get them on stage with the Troupe!

There may also be some dark-horses – it’s all about the variety these days.  Tom and Sailor have some nifty moves.

So, get working on your steps and join Bernie and Jumpin’ J on Saturday morning to audition.  It could be you 🙂

Once again, for the week that’s in it, don’t forget (voting closes this Friday, 23rd)…

Vote here: Section 10 is us, by the way https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ildsaawards2014)