Around Manhattan- The Backstroke Under the Bridges Swim

On 15th July 2023 I swam around Manhattan Island at night. Here is a blog and a playlist to accompany a spectacular journey. Around Manhattan Island Swim Playlist Song 1: Welcome to New York – Taylor Swift - An Amazingly Generous Offer  Welcome to New York! And what a welcome it was. We had booked … Continue reading Around Manhattan- The Backstroke Under the Bridges Swim →

Channel of Bones – The “Aloha” Swim

Aloha: meaning: Aloha is an essence of being, love, peace, compassion and a mutual understanding of respect. Aloha means living in harmony with the people and land around you with mercy, sympathy, grace and kindness. So how has Hawaii the “Aloha State” have one of the scariest Oceans 7 swims? I thought of this swim … Continue reading Channel of Bones – The “Aloha” Swim →

“I might want Maccas”- Supporting Adriana Milne on her conquest of Lake Taupō

The beginning I love being able to support other swimmers and was thrilled on the 9th January to get a very polite message from Adriana asking me “would I be interested and potentially available to crew for my Taupō swim”. I replied “I would love to be part of the team” and received a very … Continue reading “I might want Maccas”- Supporting Adriana Milne on her conquest of Lake Taupō →

The Irish Triple Crown- Stunning Swims and a Stunning Crown

The Irish Triple Crown of open water was announced in 2021. It consists of Galway Bay, Fastnet and North Channel. As many of you know I started my marathon swimming career long before 2021 and long before the Triple Crown was announced. I had completed Galway Bay back in 1986, at the age of 16 … Continue reading The Irish Triple Crown- Stunning Swims and a Stunning Crown →

Fasnet- The History and Heritage Swim

Swimming from “Irelands Teardrop" As I plunged into the black Atlantic Ocean at the farthest tip of Southwest Ireland under the intimidating Fastnet lighthouse at 5am on the 5th August 2022 I was enveloped with a wonder. I was astonished at the extreme sense of serenity I felt despite being, literally, a little drop in … Continue reading Fasnet- The History and Heritage Swim →

Journey to completing the North Channel

When I touched to rocky shores of Scotland on 22nd July 2022 you could say that the journey from Irish soil through freezing cold water (average 12.8 degrees) and stinging jellyfish had taken 13 hours, 33 minutes, and 36 seconds. This would not be correct. There were three key events that started this journey. The … Continue reading Journey to completing the North Channel →

Swimming Foveaux/Te-Ara-a-Kiwa

Among our Wellington Swim Group, the 'Spud Buds'”' there is an accepted tradition that you not only do your open-water swim challenge – you also write a blog about it. Welcome to my blog about swimming from Stewart Island to Bluff, one of ocean swimming's Toughest 13. I have structured this blog around a playlist … Continue reading Swimming Foveaux/Te-Ara-a-Kiwa →

Ten things I learned when swimming Lake Taupō

I started my open-water swimming aged ten in Pickie Pool, an unheated outdoor saltwater pool fed by the sea in Bangor, Ireland. I loved the fun swims which grew in length as I did. At 16 I represented Ireland at the inaugural World Open Water Swimming Championships completing the 25km swim. The following year I … Continue reading Ten things I learned when swimming Lake Taupō →