Cork sea swimmers share stories in new book

YOUGHAL’S community of sea swimmers are all on the same page.

“Sea swimming is a journey of connections, connecting with nature, connecting with people and connection with ourselves,” says Linda Donoghue.

Saltwater Souls is a collection of personal stories from Youghal’s community of sea swimmers, with profits from the book going to the town’s RNLI.

“Every day, I am so grateful for this new-found joy, for this new sense of community, for the sense of belonging,” says Jo Breslin, who is a seasoned sea swimmer.v“Thank-you, dear sea.”

Olivia Pyne, whose love affair with the ocean began almost two years ago says, “in the midst of a storm, there are many blessings to be found when you have the right kind of eyes to see.

Sea swimming for me is a healing journey towards well-being.

What was originally a four- member WhatsApp group swelled to 250 enthusiastic sea swimmers.

“Every day, if it is safe to do so, a pod of swimmers can be seen swimming in the Front Strand here in Youghal from as early as 6.30am to late evening,” says Linda, who is a native of Youghal.

What compels the sea swimmers to wax lyrical about their activity?

“I believe that it’s all about making connections,” says Linda. “It’s about the rawness of life.”

Connection with others is important.

“It is this innate need to connect that sparked the flame to fan this book,” says Linda. “To attempt to capture in printed form what sea swimming means to our community as they brave the elements to swim in our sea.”

What does the book, dedicated to millions of saltwater souls, mean to the community?

“It is very positive for the town,” says Linda.

“We couldn’t believe the amount of people who turned up for the launch at the Mall Arts Centre. People are stopping us in the street saying what a beautiful book Saltwater Souls is. We are thrilled with the positive feedback.”

Linda says daily swims weave a vibrant fabric into the tapestry of people’s lives. Sea-swimming awakens desire for adventure and awakens a sense of bonding and - that word again - connection.

A community that nourishes positive social connections is what our sea swimming group promotes.

“Hearing the shrieks of laughter from our swimmers as we wade into the cold water in winter is uplifting and invigorating as we find our sense of comfort in the uncomfortable,” says Linda.

“Feeling the warmth of the sun on our skin in summer crates a calmness that offers us a sense of balance.

“To float together, to laugh together and swim together is restorative. Sharing a chat, a cuppa and a treat after our swim is a connection that we value as food for the soul.

“We have fun and laughter together.”

Saltwater Souls is an inclusive group from all walks of life. Eoin Coyne writes about the sea’s healing powers.

“She calls me when I’m low.

Roaring out she’s a force

I can’t reckon with

And every time she beckons I go.”

Sean Coleman, who is a person with Down Syndrome and a member of Cork Special Olympics Swimming Club, fell in love with the sea as a toddler.

“My love of the sea started in Redbarn when I was a toddler paddling there,” says Sean, who won a gold, silver and bronze medal at the Ireland games in 2014, which qualified him for selection for the Irish team in the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles 2015.

My ambition was to get over to the island. 

"I made a few attempts to get there and on one occasion my mother had to get an off-duty army officer to swim out and bring me back when I was heading out across on my bodyboard!

“I still love to swim in Redbarn and Youghal Front Strand in the summer and I haven’t given up on my ambition to swim to Capel Island!”

Helen Herlihy was before her time. She was a legend that did it her way.

“In the 1950s, mam left the tide of her birthplace, Tramore, and came to Youghal,” says Helen’s daughter, Leonie. “When we were older, mam had two swims a day, sometimes three. She would shout over the garden fence to her neighbours Lydia and Francis. ‘Are we off girls?’ She would head off down to the second breaker dressed in her gown, pearl earrings, headband, and of course her bright red lipstick. No matter what the water was like, she would say ‘delicenfolder or gorgelios’. Her motto was - if there is anything going on in anyone’s life she would say ‘go to the tide’. It was her daily therapy and one of her favourite things to do.”

Helen was famous in town for the Christmas swim she did every year until 2012, raising much-needed funds for the Youghal Lions Club.

“She dressed up every year as Mrs Claus on Christmas Eve and sat inside the door of SuperValu, spoke to everyone that passed and had lollipops for the kids - they all loved her!” says Leonie.

Helen had no fear of water.

“One day there was a strong current which dragged her over to the pier,” says Leonie.

Luckily someone saw her and rescued her. When he asked her how she felt, her answer was, ’Shur boy, there is no better way to go, you just float away!’”

There is a plaque dedicated to Helen on the end of the prom where she liked to walk. It says, ‘Helen Herlihy, Our Legend. I did it my way’.

Vicki Magee says the sea has allowed her an escape. She captures the meanignful essence of the ocean with her words:

“The sea has allowed me an escape. To strip off my worries before I get in. Because my body needs my mind to brave the chill. The cool water rises slowly up, my toes, my ankles, waist in now, here comes the shrill. Now I have become one with this ocean, this silver, this blue, this magic potion.”

The Saltwater Souls feel exhilarated, joyful and uplifted with the success of their book, which would entice the most reluctant of souls to dip their toes in the water.

The unique personal stories from the sea swimmers, the photographs displaying such joyful images, the reflections, the poetry, all combine beautifully in a sequence reflecting the close bond of the sea-swimmers community.

“Our swimmers are immensely proud of this book,” says Linda.

We love that it offers the reader slices of our lives as we share images of laughter, sadness, comfort, magic and most of all with the sea’s constant presence.

Saltwater Souls was supported by Cork County Council Community Fund and Youghal credit Union.

The book is available at Youghal Tourist Information Centre, Read & Write, Youghal, Crees card shop, Youghal, and Living Youghal.

Profits from the book to Youghal RNLI

See @saltwatersouls_book @youghalseaswimmers2020, or email youghalseaswimmers2020@gmail.com. It will also be on sale at Youghal Christmas Market, Barry’s Lane, December 9 and16.