There was noticeable excitement among the 86 swimmers who took to the water on Sunday 30th June, participating in the 29th Annual RNLI Sponsored Swim. Favourable conditions, a 40+ strong flotilla of support kayakers, numerous support ribs, and months of training resulted in every swimmer successfully completing their swim, arriving in Helvick to a cheering crowd, a quick medical assessment, and refreshments.
On the Helvick pier, hundreds of visitors and supporters enjoyed a BBQ burger, the dog show, live music by Dungarvan Brass Band, shopped for RNLI souvenirs, and cheered for the swimmers as they arrived. Supporters of all ages participated in the King & Queen of Helvick welly-throwing competition, a long-standing and crowd-pleasing event feature.
After months of planning, to see the dedication of the swimmers and full support of the local community is wonderful. We’re so grateful to all of our incredible volunteers, swimmers, and supporters. We reached a new fundraising record for this year’s Helvick Swim, an achievement that could only be possible with the full support of the community. It’s incredible.
Kevin O’ Morchoe, hon. FNLI Helvick Fundraising Committee Chairman.
The 86 swimmers who participated are: Conor Barron, Patrick Bergin, Lawrence Boland, Joe Brennan, Mike Briggs, Noel Browne, Caroline Burke, Madeline Burke, Elizabeth Callaghan, Nuala Carroll, Paul Colville, Ciara Costello, Sarah Coughlan, Aishling Croke Sheehan, Teresa Daly, Michael Daly, Sinead de Faoite, Marc de Grás, Pat Devereux, Sarah Enright, Mary-Jane Enright, Una Fennell, Katie Flood, Barry Fox, Sheila Gaughan, Aaron Glynn, Lilian Gorey, Thomas Grace, Shannon Green, Jamie Hallahan, Lillian Harte, Shane Harte, Patrick Haughey, Greg Hays, Joanne Hegarty, Conor Hennebry, Jamie Hennessy, Sarah Higgins, Kate Higgins, Fionnuala Houlihan, Sarah Howley, Rhoda Jennings, Yvonne Kelly, Niamh Kennedy, Maeve Lankford, Martin Lavan, Brie Lynch, Nuria Martinez, Kevin Mc Nally, Judit Mc Nally, William Mc Nally, Neil McAuliffe, Katherine McCarthy, Clíona McGovern, Jennifer McGrath, Peter Merrigan, Joey Miller, Simon Moloney, Aisling Moloney, Therese Molyneux, Emmet Murray, Emma Murray, Siobhan Ni Chonaill, Grainne Ní Fhoghlu, Albert Noonan, Fiona O’Brien, Padraig O’Donoghue, Darren Ó Droma, Anthony O’Gorman, Lorcán Ó Muirí, Julette O’Sullivan, Niamh O’Mahony, Iain O’Connell, Sean O’Hare, Eilis O’Toole, Anne-Marie Power, David Power, Keith Redmond Redmond, Billy Ryan, Aoibheann Ryan, Michael Scannell, Sinéad Uí Arta, Aisling Uí Cheallacháin, Sinead Walsh, Orla White, John White
RNLI Helvick would like to thank Paidi at Spar an Rinn, Interlude Restaurant, Merry’s Gastro Pub, The Moorings, Frank Nugent / Centra Abbeyside, EuroSpar, Albert McGrath newsagent, Mary Curran (South East Scrufts Dog Show), Glanbia / Tirlan, Flahavan’s, Deise Vets, Jim Quinn, The Cliff House Hotel, Eye I Optician, Gold Coast Resort, Nire Valley Glamping, Ford’s Daybreak / Circle K garage, Sólás na Mara, Iasc Seafood Restaurant, all of the swimmers, kayakers, support ribs, the lifeboat crews, the Irish Coast Guard, the BBQ team, the Tea Lady team, the MCs Oliver Carroll & Fiacra, all volunteers, and everyone who turned up to support the swimmers, event, RNLI, and the lifeboats.
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea.
