'Sea swimming is a mix of pure exhilaration, joy and peace'

 Niamh Hegarty, founder of BKultured, as well as food trailer Niamh's Larder, Sea Swimmer

‘I've always been a sea swimmer. Our home is located meters away from Ballybrannigan beach, East Cork and since I was young, we spent our whole summers in the sea. In recent years, I've become much braver and have been swimming over winter. 

"My mum organised a swim week on Ballybrannigan beach for many years with Irish Water, where we were taught how to swim in the sea. When I was younger, I swam competitively and trained to be a lifeguard. The feeling I get from a swim is this interesting mix of pure exhilaration and joy, as well as this feeling of pure peace. 

Swimming brings me back to balance. It's also so addictive, and I crave it when I haven't been in for a while. 

"Over the past three years, I have organised a multitude of events at the beach. My food trailer, Niamh's Larder, is located on the beach, so we've had yoga, beach cleans, and, most recently, live music events through my business, BKultured. These events are centered around bringing music to this place of complete calm. We have also done some events for charity through group sea swim experiences. I lived in Queenstown in New Zealand for a year, and I really missed the ocean. We had a lake, but it didn't have the same energy that the sea has for me, and I craved it so much. 

I know that for the rest of my life, I have to be near the sea. Even if it's just watching the waves, it's so meditative. 

"Sometimes it is too cold or wild to get in, but seeing the power of the ocean can be so exhilarating. The sea means a lot to me. It reminds me of how small we are in this world. Life can feel heavy and hard sometimes, and because I work so much on my own, it can feel really challenging. But looking at or being in the sea really brings all of that back to perspective in realising that there is so much more out there. It also brings me a deep sense of calm that I cannot get anywhere else, and the best part is it's totally free, and all I have to do is jump in. I feel that the ocean resembles so much how life is and how ever-changing it is. 

I find that reminder brings me a certain feeling of calm. 

With BKultured especially, I want to do what I can in the future to preserve the ocean as a resource and the beaches as places that we can keep enjoying and discovering our coastlines.

But I will always say to respect the sea; it's more powerful than us. So swim safely!’