Open water swimming in West Cork: Your guide on how to get started

WEST Cork is perfectly suited to year-round open water swimming, a pursuit which has been on the crest of a wave in recent years. 

Enthusiasts are drawn to the pristine waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the many picturesque locations dotted around the coastline. There are a myriad of benefits associated with open water swimming, ranging from physical well-being to mental health and community engagement.

Level 2 swim coaches, Grainne Caulfield and Poppy Bament provide open water swim coaching at various locations in the West Cork area, including Duneen Strand, Clonakilty and Lough Hyne, Skibbereen. I caught up with the ladies to find out more about what is on offer.

Both ladies have a long association with swimming. They began teaching and coaching in the pool environment. Like many, they were fascinated by the draw of the open sea and completed their Level 2 Open Water Coaching course with the renowned Skibbereen native, and Oceans Sevens swimmer, Stephen Redmond.

They began coaching Open Water at Duneen in 2021 when lockdown restrictions limited them to groups of four. Participants were primarily beginners at that time, but the ladies are very proud of the fact that many are still swimming, with some great success stories. 

One beginner from those early days, who was terrified of the water, has now completed a relay leg of the 10k Galley Head swim and has also completed a half Iron Man.

The ladies have completed the Beach Lifeguard course and provide Kayak support at every session. They also have a contact person on the beach, whom they can communicate with, by radio, in case of any emergency. Groups are kept to a maximum of six, but they run a number of courses back-to-back, three times during the summer months.

Groups vary in ability from complete beginners to those training for specific organised swims, triathlons or iron man events. They set specific goals, geared to participants' ability and also offer GoPro stroke analysis. Packages are quite varied and offer a range of options. Classes are fully booked at present, but there is a waiting list and they endeavour to include everyone on the waiting list by the end of the summer.

The Galley Head 10k swim will be held this year on July 13. Both Grainne and Poppy have swam and helped others to compete, in this charity swim. 

The event begins at the Red Strand. After swimming for approximately 2k, they round the Galley Head and swim back toward the shore, passing the Long Strand and Owenahincha before turning right and finishing at the Warren Strand. The swim raises vast sums of money for local charities annually. This year the charities are Marymount Hospice, Cancer Connect and CoAction.

Safety in open water is paramount and the courses include safety briefings, knowledge of tides and weather conditions. They also offer advice on the varieties of Jellyfish one might encounter on a swim. The ladies are conscious of the opportunities available to children through school programmes and swim clubs, but there is a severe lack of similar educational opportunities for adults. 

They are very conscious of the need to have a knowledge of the basic requirements and the importance of personal responsibility. Never swim alone, wear a brightly coloured had and float.

BLESSED

They are quick to point out that West Cork is such a great place to swim. “We are blessed with so many swim spots and fantastic lifeguarded beaches, like Tragumna, Warren Strand Rosscarbery, Owenahincha, Inchydoney and Garretstown to name but a few. Any road you travel down in West Cork, you are sure to find a beach." 

Lough Hyne in Skibbereen is magical.

The glow-in-the-dark, saltwater lake is a place of peaceful serenity. The lake is connected to the Atlantic by a narrow tidal channel, known as the rapids. A special feature at Lough Hyne is the night swim when the water comes alive with bioluminescence.

On the eastern side of the county, the Swim Ireland SwimFest returns to Claycastle, Youghal on June 30. The event is supported by Cork Sports Partnership and Cork County Council. The event caters for all levels of swim enthusiasts. There is a fun 500m participation event. 

There are three competitive events, over 1km, 2km and 3.8km distances. Spectators and competitors can partake in swim talks and Yoga sessions on the beach and enjoy snacks and tea or coffee while they enjoy the day.