Munster Open Water Swim Calendar 2013

From Finbarr Hedderman:

Hey Folks, the sun has come out so it must be sea swimming time…

The 2013 Munster Open Water Race Calendar is getting pretty full at this stage and all your favourites are included.

The calendar is available on the web here: bit.ly/2013MunsterOW

We’re still waiting for dates to be confirmed for some of our swims, but most organisers have confirmed their dates and they are included in the spreadsheet. So get your togs on (or wetsuits if you’re looking for something more comfortable) and get training for the open water season. There’s plenty of big ones from past years included and some new swims too; so sunscreen at the ready, it’s time to hit the sea!

Swim safely, swim in groups & be aware of the dangers of the sea, but mostly keep swimming Nemo!

Myrtleville to Church Bay Swim 2013

The RNLI Myrtleville to Church Bay (entrance to Cork Harbour) 2km open water sea swim takes place on Sunday 16th June at 10:00am on an incoming tide.

This forms part of the national open water swim schedule and is a challenging 2km swim in open water conditions from Myrtleville Beach to Church Bay, with majestic views of Roches Point lighthouse, the entrance to Cork Harbour and the odd oil tanker or navy vessel passing by. If on the day the safety officers deem the sea and or weather conditions not safe ; an alternative route from Fort Camden to the lifeboat station in Crosshaven will be considered.

Entry criteria will apply and will be finalised closer to the date.  Suffice to say, doing 1,500m in the pool at the moment would be a good idea!

Open Water swimming in Cork, Ireland

Myrtleville-Church-Bay-2KM – Open Water Swim.

UCC friends of MSF Charity Swim

To mark Women’s Little Christmas, a dedicated group of students from the Friends of MSF UCC Society, braved the open water for some sea swimming.  They were raising funds for Médecins Sans Frontières, in aid of MSF’s projects in South Sudan and hoping to spread awareness about the suffering of the 170,000 people in refugee camps there. MSF is working with those who have fled the violence in Sudan, running field hospitals and providing clean drinking water and oral rehydration fluids.

If anyone would like to support MSF in their work, they can give a once-off contribution using this link : https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/donate/onetime.cfm .  Money goes much further in South Sudan than it does in Ireland, so if just one person donated a euro, that would be a success.

Open Water - Sea Swimming in Cork, Ireland: Friends of MSF Charity Swim

Friends of MSF Christmas Swim

Open Water - Sea Swimming for MSF - January 6, 2013

Sea Swimming for MSF – January 6, 2013

Ned Denison swimming False Bay, South Africa

Well done, Ned.  Great swim: See the details here.

Owen O’Keeffe is keeping an eye on Ned’s plans.  The tracker isn’t working so for the intended start time tomorrow, Dec. 30,  06:00 local time (that’s 04:00 for us in Ireland) Owen will be doing updates at this page. The pilot will be texting progress reports to support crew in S.A. and they will forward these to Owen, who will keep his page updated as the day goes on.  Good luck, Ned!

Christmas Day Swim 2012

Myrtleville Christmas Swim 2012 - view from the waterline

Myrtleville Christmas Swim 2012 – view from the waterline

Huge crowds on the beach on Christmas morning, swimming for various charities or just for their own sanity.  More cars and people than on the busiest Summer’s day.  Obviously the health of open water swimming in Ireland is going from strength to strength.  Or maybe I’m reading too much into that….  Some swimmers lasted almost a minute in the water…..Thanks to Brian Barry for the pictures.

Myrtleville Christmas Swim 2012 - spot the Munster player.....

Myrtleville Christmas Swim 2012 – spot the Munster player…..

Eamon Griffin, Brian Barry, Paul Barry, Kieran & Padraig O'Flynn: intrepid swimmers all

Eamon Griffin, Brian Barry, Paul Barry, Kieran & Padraig O’Flynn: intrepid swimmers all

Myrtleville Christmas Swim 2012: last few getting out

Myrtleville Christmas Swim 2012: last few getting out

Turkey Swim – 2nd December

A good turn-out for 9.6 degrees in the water and 10 degrees on land.  We couldn’t have asked for a better day for Lisa Cummins’ Turkey Swim in Myrtleville.  Siobhan Russell had the foresight to bring a camera – thanks to her.

Bernard had organised mince pies and mulled wine afterwards – with the generous assistance of Jimmy Long, his daughter, Sheila and granddaughters.  So, thanks to Centra Crosshaven for this festive touch and to Jimmy for faciliating us as always, blocking his roadway at the top of the beach!

Bernard, Jimmy Long & Damian outside Jimmy's house

Bernard, Jimmy Long & Damian outside Jimmy’s house

Mulled wine and mince pies at Myrtleville

Mulled wine and mince pies at Myrtleville

One myth put to bed today was that Lisa never, ever, ever gets cold.  While she didn’t actually shake so that she spilled her mulled wine, witnesses confirmed she did actually have a slight tremor in her hand after the swim.  That’s a first…..

Lisa - definitely cold: we have witnesses

Lisa – definitely cold: we have witnesses

A great afternoon.  Thanks to all who came along.  The list from Lisa is:

Carol Cashell
Alan Craughwell
Lisa Cummins
Ned Denison
Bernard Lynch
Keith Mackeown
Rosaleen Mackeown
Karen McEvoy
Maeve Mulcahy
Niamh O’Connor
Damian O’Neill
Kevin Power
Siobhan Russell
Ger Venner
 
And honourable mention for Bonnie the dog.
 
 

Tom McCarthy honoured at ILDSA awards

Owen O’Keeffe, the Fermoy Fish, organised a great evening in the Grand Hotel Fermoy for Ned Denison’s annual celebration of marathon swimming in Cork and a combined event for the first time with the Irish Long Distance Swimmers Association (ILDSA) awards.  Several Myrtleville regulars got honourable mention and Tom McCarthy was presented with an award for his Channel Relay swim this Summer. Thanks to Donal Buckley for the picture.

Tom McCarthy and Ned Denison - ILDSA Awards 2012

Ned Denison & Tom McCarthy – ILDSA Awards 2012

Turkey swim in Myrtleville: Sunday December 2, 13:30.

Myrtleville Turkey Swim - Dec 2, 2012

Myrtleville Turkey Swim – Dec 2, 2012

Liz Buckley & others are organising the 2012 Turkey Series.  They have bowed to demand from the swimming public and scheduled a date for the jewel in Cork’s swimming crown….. see you at 13:30 on Myrtleville beach, Sunday, December 2.  Be there early, as we’re expecting a huge crowd……maybe our local Lucky Duck, might make an appearance, to support fowl friends. No comments please about who is the biggest turkey.

From Liz:

Format is the same as always, €2 per entry, you can swim, walk, paddle. Proceeds all go towards the prizes at the end. More times you enter, the better your chances!

  • 13.30 Sun 25, Nov – Sandycove – Lisa
  • 13:30 , Sunday December 2 – Myrtleville – Lisa
  • 12 noon, Sun 9 – Sandycove – Eoin
  • 11.00, Sun 9 – Loch Ine – Liz
  • 12 noon sat 22 – Sandycove – Craig
  • 12 noon sun 23 – Sandycove – Lisa