FeedbackAs well as adding your favourite spots let us know what you think of the places already listed. If you agree or disagree with our choices, we would love to hear from you. All opinions, as long as they are reasonably balanced, will be welcome and we will put them up on our feedback section. Send your suggestions to We look forward to hearing from you. ***************************************** August '11 Hello, First of all happy Monday!! My name is Helen Henderson, and I am an aquatics director at a summer camp and I teach kids, teens and counselors about swimming and swimming safety. I have been using your page http://outdoorswimming.ie/links.html for a few summers now, there is a lot of good stuff on it. Thank you so much! I also wanted to point out a resource I stumbled upon while searching for new pages swimming safety: http://www.breezes.com/resort-resources-introduction-to-swimming.html . This page provides resources that explain the importance of swimming, swimming safety and swimming techniques. It is a very good resource for kids, and I was thinking it might be a good addition to your page as well. Thanks again, Have a wonderful rest of your summer! Helen ***************************************** I just wanted to advise you on another beach in Co. Clare, also called White Strand! As you leave Spanish Point to travel towards Lahinch , about 2 kms down the road you come to a junction where turning right will take you to Miltown Malbay and carrying on to the left will continue to Lahinch. Instead of carrying on there is also a smaller road immediately to the left which will lead you down to White Strand. We holiday in Spanish Point every year and much prefer White Strand as it is much calmer and much safer. When the tide is in it is stoney but there is a nice bit of beach at low tide. But the best bit of all is that for the last three years there has been a dolphin who comes right in to the beach and swims around you – it’s amazing! We have just returned from West Cork and also enjoyed lovely sheltered swims in the inlet at Crookhaven. Barleycove beach is beautiful but not great for swimming as there are very strong rip-tides, but nearby Ballyrisode beach was perfect for family swims and very safe. Mairead ***************************************** Great site - well done on promoting these great assets. Slight correction re. Mullaghmore in Sligo. Sligo County Council won't provide lifeguards (2009 & 2010) as cattle accessing beach and leaving their deposits pose too severe a Health and Safety risk for lifeguards. Seems chances of lifeguards stepping in cattle poo more risky than an unattended family beach!! ***************************************** Brian, As a fellow, almost everyday, swimmer in the waters around this
island i David, Dublin ***************************************** Do you have any interest in featuring Outdoor Swimming
Pools in Ireland or is the website solely for natural resources? ***************************************** I have attached the three page 2010 Sandycove Island (Kinsale) Open Water Swimming local program. On page three are local contacts in Cork. You can best improve you speed, distance, fun and safety by swimming with your nearest group (where ever you live/work). FOR OTHER OPEN WATER SWIM LOCATIONS/GROUPS IN IRELAND: Please see: http://www.swimireland.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=678&Itemid=197 Contact me directly if you are looking for international locations/groups. 1. In addition to the two big Cork races above - we have nearly
100 other races in Ireland. See http://www.swimireland.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=642&Itemid=195
for the latest Irish schedule. As well find attached the 2009 open water swimming report for Ireland. Regards, Ned, Cork ***************************************** Hi, great website and well done on the Irish Times article. I was interested in your review of Bunbeg beach. When holidaying in Derrybeg during my childhood, we were always warned of strong currents off the beach in Bunbeg and never swam there. In any case, the nicest beach (in my opinion) in Gweedore is a little further to the north and it’s called Magheragallon. There is a small pier there from which a boat leaves for Gola Island and the clear water is safe to dive into from the pier at high tide. As children, my siblings and I would fish for crabs from the pier. Mageragallon actually consists of two beaches – a small beach next to the pier (from which my father taught me how to swim) and a larger beach accessible via a path from the parking area by the pier. This larger beach is backed by sand dunes and bookended by granite outcrops, one of which is partially covered at high tide and whose smooth stones at low tide are great for children to explore. The location is stunning - it is no surprise that Enya chose it to film a video for her song ‘On Your Shore’, made famous by its inclusion in the movie ‘LA Story’. Magheragallon is ideal for swimmers of all ages. To get to Magheragallon beach, take the R257 to Derrybeg, then take the Strand Road (on your left when approaching from Bunbeg). About 200m from the golf clubhouse, the road forks – take the right fork (keeping the cemetery on your right) and you will come to the parking area by the pier. Best wishes Fergal ***************************************** Hi there I absolutely loved the item in Summer Living in the Irish times 20th July regarding outdoor swimming. I am passionate about sea swimming. I am in my late 50s, and since I learned to swim, at the age of 12, I have grown more and more passionate over the years! Like yourself, I am happy to swim parallel to the shore, pottering. It's not the distance..it's the experience. On summer days, with a gentle breeze blowing, the sun on the water and maybe a few white horses running on top of the water, there is no greater pleasure than the momentary shock of the water on warm skin, then the joy of the sun on your face, and the energy in the sea. There are days when I laugh out loud, with delight, at happiness those first few moments bring. I always keep a swimsuit and a towel in the boot of the car, in case opportunity presents itself! To drive to my home in Laytown after a hot day in the office in Dublin, to welcome the water around my tired body..........and to emerge, invigorated, ten or fifteen minutes later..aaah. I swim mostly from late April on, and continue most years into early November, or even later. I have swum in the Atlantic, the Irish Sea, the Med, the Adriatic, the South China Sea....and, the coup de grace; in Antarctica, two years ago! We moved to Laytown 8 years ago, and it meant I had the sea
on my doorstep all year round. Laytown, Bettystown and Mornington
beaches are all the one long stretch of clean golden sand. The sea
is quite shallow for almost a half a mile, very safe for swimming.
I try not to swim at Bettystown, because of the crowds who flock
there on fine days. Laytown is less than a mile from Bettystown,
and much quieter. There is parking on the beach at Bettystown, for which there is a €2 charge; and toilet facilities at Bettystown only; shops and a couple of bistros; you can access Bettystown via the M1 motorway; take the exit for Julianstown/Bettystown./South Drogheda, and follow the road into Julianstown. Take a right hand turn as you come up the hill out of Julianstown village, and again follow the road to Laytown. The beach cannot be accessed by car at Laytown; Meath County Council want you to go to Bettystown and pay the €2 charge! Regards ***************************************** I’m Niall and I have been swimming in Triathlons now for a few years….. anyway I have a couple of spots for your web site. Best of luck with it, I hope to use a few of your spots…… Thanks, Niall Detail: Location: Anascaul Lake, anascaul, Co Kerry (Dingle peninsula) Directions: From Tralee take the N86. Anascaul is on the main road. ( Approx 30 km ) Go through the town and past the famous South Pole Inn (of Tom Crean fame) After this pub take a right turn and follow the road between the mountains. No road number for this road…. Just about a road in spots. There is a gate on the road…. As the sign says “ public Road, close gate.” You can drive all the way to the lake and further. I swam to the other sided and back …. Then back to the south pole in for some lunch. The water was dark and pure. It was ( Pictures to be added ) ***************************************** Hi, I saw your website advertised on the RTE news last night. I just wanted to add a few beaches around the Kinsale area The Dock Beach (Jarley’s Cove) Kinsale, head out of Kinsale and turn left having crossed the bridge and it’s behind the Dock Bar. Access is down a lane way by holiday houses. Good parking, very safe. Sandycove – Kinsale Very popular with strong swimmers that normally swim around Goat Island. Good parking and very popular with Swim Masters. There’s lots more but here are my 2 spots for now J Keep up the good work! Best regards, ***************************************** Hello, all the best from a hooked Springers addict. ***************************************** Two wonderful places to swim in Kerry ***************************************** There is an outdoor swimming pool in ballinakill run by the
council, open in the summer. John,Laois *****************************************
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