Irish endurance swimmer Daragh Morgan first to swim around Ireland

Ottoline Spearman

Irish endurance swimmer Daragh Morgan has become the first person to swim around Ireland.

Battling jellyfish stings, severe chafing, and multiple injuries, the Galway man swam 1,468 kilometres over the course of five months. 

The 1,468-kilometre swim took the Galway man five months to complete.

Beginning in May and finishing in November, Mr Morgan spent 338 hours in the water, covering an average of 15km per day and swimming for approximately four hours daily across 99 separate swims over 93 days.

The idea for the project first emerged six years ago, and after extensive training, logistics, and planning, it became a reality this year.

A key element of the expedition’s success was the support fleet, with the primary vessel being Naomh Crónán, a traditional 43ft Galway Hooker provided by Badóirí an Chladaigh.

Across the journey, the team managed three boats, ensuring Mr Morgan's safety, navigation, and daily operational needs.

The expedition was captained by Dara Bailey, from Leitir Mór in Galway.

“Without Dara, none of this would have been possible,” Mr Morgan said. “His knowledge of the coastline, seamanship, and calm leadership kept us going through the toughest days.”

Notably, the swim was achieved without major corporate sponsorship, relying instead on community support and small-scale fundraising to keep the project afloat.

Mr Morgan also raised funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Simon Community.

The homecoming takes place at 4.30pm in Galway Docks on Saturday, November 22nd, and Mr Morgan and the team have extended an open invitation to all.

The team is encouraging the public to continue supporting the fundraiser through its website: https://www.swimeire.ie/