Limerick Public Urged to Come Out and Support Thomond Swim! Posted on August 19th, 2010

Limerick’s top open water swimmers will be in action on the River Shannon next Wednesday, August 25th for The Thomond Swim.

Fifty members of Limerick Masters Swimming Club will take on one of the toughest challenges of their annual calendar and will be joined by other invited Swim Ireland Masters swimmers from Dublin, Cork and Galway.

Two swimmers from the Aran Swim Challenge (From Inis Oirr to Doolin) will also be taking part as well as swimmers from the UL High Performance Team. 

Members of the public are invited to support the swim which takes place at 7pm and will be officially launched by Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Maria Byrne.

The 1.7km swim will start at St Michael’s Boat Club slipway, head up to the Curragower Falls to Thomond Bridge and return to finish at Howley’s Quay.

Limerick Marine Sea and Rescue will patrol the Shannon and keep an eye on the competitors during the swim.

Thomond Swim PRO John Garrett said the event is now in its third year since being revived after a break of many years.

“It is one of our great annual sporting spectacles and the sporting rivalry between the swimmers is immense,” he said. “All want to be able to look back and say that they won the Thomond Swim in 2010. The Swim is tough but after a number of practice runs in recent weeks the competitors are ready .

He added:

“Even describing the route engenders a sense of pride in the proud history of this great place. This will not be lost on the swimmers who will be representing the city with the Treaty Stone emblazoned on their swim caps.  We would love if the people of the city would come out and support what is truly a unique Limerick event.”

Some of the competitors in the Thomond Swim are very experienced open water swimmers having swam the English Channel. The best viewing points for the public are on Sarsfield Bridge and along the newly re-furbished Riverside Boardwalks on Clancy’s Strand and O’Callaghan’s Strand.

The swim is expected to take between 20 and 40 minutes with prizes for the first home male and female swimmer and for the fastest male and female swimmer.

All monies raised from the Thomond Swim will be donated to Limerick Marine Search and Rescue.

ENDS

For further information on the Thomond Swim, please contact John Garrett, PRO Thomond Swim and Limerick Masters Swimming Club  061-310023