Dublin Bay / Irish Sea

Tom Fiat

Hi - I'm Tom and I recently moved to Dublin from Chicago in the US of A.
I have always swam outdoors in lakes, rivers etc and would like to keep this trend going in Dublin.
I've seen some people swim down around grand canal (work nearby) which is great for a quick dip.
However, where else could I go - irish sea is a definate option I suppose.
Is it safe and clean - you guys dont have any mammals/fish in the water that one needs to be careful around?
Thanks for any future suggestions.

secman

Hi Tom,

Welcome to Ireland, there are numerous groups that do open swims all year round. Can I suggest that you log on to www.swimleinster.com or www.swimireland.ie. There are plent of links there to join a masters club depending where you are currently living/working. Just to let you know Masters refers to age rather than being true Masters of swimming !

Best of luck

Secman

PS stay clear of Canal

Tom Fiat

thanks secman - thats got me started goodo.

is the canal off limits? I've seen people swimming in grand canal, water beside the new theatre all the time - looks clean to me.
and there is a water sports school based adjacent to this pond, surely those guys know what they're doing??

Bring it on - cant wait to hit the irish sea waves.

Seaswimmer

Tom Fiat wrote: »

is the canal off limits? I've seen people swimming in grand canal, water beside the new theatre all the time - looks clean to me.
and there is a water sports school based adjacent to this pond, surely those guys know what they're doing??

That area is known as Ringsend basin/Grand Canal basin. There is nothing to stop you swimming there however be prepared for strange looks and reactions. There was a race there up to a few years ago and I always found the water fine. I would suggest however that the sea is much nicer. Favourite spots are south wall, seapoint (tidal) sandycove, killiney (white rock) all on the southside and bull wall, portmarnock, malahide on the northside. Any of the masters clubs will have people who sea swim all year round so it really depends where you are living..

enda1

Seaswimmer wrote: »

That area is known as Ringsend basin/Grand Canal basin. There is nothing to stop you swimming there however be prepared for strange looks and reactions. There was a race there up to a few years ago and I always found the water fine. I would suggest however that the sea is much nicer. Favourite spots are south wall, seapoint (tidal) sandycove, killiney (white rock) all on the southside and bull wall, portmarnock, malahide on the northside. Any of the masters clubs will have people who sea swim all year round so it really depends where you are living..

While its most likely fine, you get some asshole the odd time dumping their septic tank into the basin.

You'd probably be grand swimming there though, it is the grand canal after all!

mad m

Tom there is a sea swim race on tomorrow evening at Bullwall, its on at 7pm sharp, but you'd want to be at start of walk up to it around 6pm, its a 15 to 20min walk up to start and then its a swim down to the wooden bridge.

You wont be able to swim though as you have to be registered with a club and swim ireland to swim for insurance purposes, but it will give you an idea what its all about. The Annual Liffey Swim is on the 11th of September, its a great day and not to be missed. Over 200+ swimmers compete ,some from overseas.

Only thing to watch out for in our sea's is jellyfish especially the big brown pigs (Lions Maine)

Schtoom

Hi Tom,

I'd recommend either Seapoint or Sandycove/The 40 Foot.
A nice group of people swim at both places.
Both places are clean too!
Nothing too serious in the water except those big jellyfish - but people warn each other if one is spotted.
There are some seals out at Sandycove but they pretty much keep away from the swimmers.