Kerry woman completes gruelling Cork swim ranked as one of the most difficult in the world

Elaine Burrows Dillane yesterday swam from Fastnet to Baltimore - a distance of about 23km.

Speaking to Ray Foley on Cork's RedFM, Elaine, who completed the swim in seven hours and 45 minutes, said conditions were favourable for her epic feat yesterday.

"I couldn’t have written away for a better day. It was gorgeous. 

"Generally the temperature is very cold out there but it was 13 degrees out at the Fastnet and it built up to 16 degrees so I was one of the lucky ones."

Elaine swam as a child but gave it up at the age of 19 and only took it back up in the last four years.

A member of Tralee Bay Swimming Club, she has previously completed other demanding open water swims.

"I started training for the English Channel and I did that last September as well as a few marathon swims in Tralee Bay," she said.

On her journey, Elaine was joined by a pod of dolphins, which she said was a magical experience. 

"I could nearly touch them. 

"They were swimming under my belly and coming up and jumping next to me," she said.

"It was electric it was just so soothing and calming."