It’s hard to imagine it now, but there was a time when Myrtleville was not the centre of open water swimming in Cork – and thus the world, of course.  A time when you didn’t have to carefully work out when to go swimming, in order to avoid the crowds.  A time before its fame as home of The Hat, tremendous Towels and nude calendar models (tremendous, Kieran, tremendous).

Back then – c.2007 – someone had the bright idea that getting two famous Corkonian sporting brothers down for a photo might raise the profile of swimming at the beach.  So down they came, stalwarts of the Cork hurling scene…… Frank and Bernard Lynch.  

No laughing up there in Source, now.  Bernard played senior for Blackrock (it was a challenge game, yes, and they were stuck for subs, but it still counts).  Frank was a star minor until he went abroad for the crack.  He’d tell you himself, but he’s very modest.  

Anyway, they also brought along another few fellas with them, two of whom might also fall under the banner of famous sporting brothers who played a few matches.

Michael Collins, Frank Lynch, Sean Og O hAilpin, Bernard Lynch & Teu O hAilpin sporting and playing on Myrtleville beach in 2007.

Seriously, though, look at Bernard in that wetsuit.  A slip of a youngfella.  Only ten years ago?  He must have been doing nothing for the last few years.   Really – he went from that to THIS???

Bernard after a bit of a day out from Dover last Summer.

Age is a terrible thing.    Up the Rebels 🙂

The girl in question from yesterday’s quiz was pictured in 1974 with her cousin, Tricia Dwane.  Her name is Staunton, but she’s better known to all of us as our shining star, Mrs. Siobhan Russell.

Also, for music junkies, Dave Stewart appears in the video escorted by a variety of guest stars including Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston of Bucks Fizz, Kiki Dee, Hazel O’Connor, Kate Garner of Haysi Fantayzee and all four members of Bananarama (including Stewart’s future wife, Siobhan Fahey and future group member Jacquie O’Sullivan who would replace Fahey in Bananarama in 1988). The gender-bending pop star Marilyn also makes an appearance in the video as another of Stewart’s escorts. 

By the way, Ms. Lennox  also appears as a man and in the last scene is actually kissing herself in male and female guises.  Mad stuff for 1983!

Now, get back to swimming.  Here’s another gratuitous shower shot to get you in the mood.  Or – given the model – put you off your breakfast.

Mr. Lowry becomes Mr. Showery.

Never let it be said that we at Myrtleville Swimmers Meedja Enterprises & Associated Guff Production Inc. are not always looking for ways to keep our most loyal and committed fans – both of them – entertained.

Today we’re playing “Who’s that girl?” – and doing it not only with a Eurythmics soundtrack but also a further quiz based on the soundtrack video.  Mad or wha’?  You wouldn’t get that in San……, but anyway, let’s not digress.

Right, first of all, here’s a picture taken of serious swimmers about to swim to the Dutchman at some point in the 1970’s.  This was taken in Fennell’s Bay, so the swim to the Rock was more manageable for the young athletes.  Note particularly the coolest of cool togs – WITH skirt – modelled by the girl on the right.  That same girl on the right is still to be found swimming regularly at Fennell’s, the Dutchman and, of course, Myrtleville.

The question is – who’s that girl?

While you’re thinking about it, enjoy the dulcet tones of Ms. Lennox.  Watch the video and – if you’re of a certain era – enjoy spotting how many of the ladies accompanying Mr. Stewart are actually pop stars in their own right.  

See – the most funnest swimmy-type site in the whole world.  No competition. 

It’s always after Christmas that the new toys start appearing at the beach, leaving some of us feeling a bit left behind.  

There are, for example, many of us who thought the HarCon 1.75L Manual Shower was as good as it got.  It was, therefore, a bit of a shock on Saturday morning when Gary Frost produced his All-New, Just-Delivered-By-Santa, HarCon 2000 5L Pump Primed Shower.

Talk about an “I-Want-One-Of-Those” moment.

Gary with his 5L Pump Primed HarCon model. Certainly left those of us on the old 1.75L Manual feeling a bit underwhelmed.

I did my best to hide the feelings of inadequacy and waffled about wanting to “keep it real” and “going back to vinyl”, “retro” etc.  It was all just a front, though.  

Fortunately for me, both Messrs. Harris and Condon were at the beach on Saturday.  I was able to stop in to the HarCon Mobile Yaris Sales Pod and get advice on how best to respond.  Amazingly, it involved me parting with loadsa cash.  The end justifies the means, though (as the salesmen kept telling me).

Let’s just say, I’m looking forward to next Saturday morning, post-swim…

Me with my all-new HarCon 2017 Power Shower Deluxe. Bring it on, Gary!!

Anyone have a loan of a generator, by the way?