• Advertise
  • Contact
  • Find a Retailer
  • eMagazine
Subscribe
IRISH COUNTRY MAGAZINE
  • Inside the issue
  • Irish Made
    • Irish Made Awards
  • Style
  • Food
  • Sustainability
  • Beauty
    • BIAB Nails
    • Hair
    • Health & Fitness
    • Makeup
    • Skincare
  • Interiors
  • Weddings
  • Win
  • More
    • Culture
    • Family
    • Gardening
    • Health
    • The Invisible Struggle
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
IRISH COUNTRY MAGAZINE
  • Inside the issue
  • Irish Made
    • Irish Made Awards
  • Style
  • Food
  • Sustainability
  • Beauty
    • BIAB Nails
    • Hair
    • Health & Fitness
    • Makeup
    • Skincare
  • Interiors
  • Weddings
  • Win
  • More
    • Culture
    • Family
    • Gardening
    • Health
    • The Invisible Struggle
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
Irish Country Magazine
No Result
View All Result

Sea swimmers share their hows and whys to get you into the ocean

Saoirse Hanley by Saoirse Hanley
December 21, 2021
A A

It’s not easy to dip your toe into Irish waters in the winter, let alone your whole body, so why do the swimmers do it?

The obligatory Christmas Day swim is behind us, but for many it was already part of their regular Saturday routine.  Amidst lockdowns, many of us couldn’t go to the local pool and took to the ocean instead. In the Irish winter, that’s no small (or warm) feat. Here’s what motivates seasoned swimmers to dive in, and some of the benefits they reap in the process.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ellen Taylor is based in Dublin, and she and her mother brave the ocean because “it’s exhilarating and it’s supposedly healthy.” And they’re not wrong. Cold water swimming can boost your immune system, improve circulation, and reduce stress. Taylor says,”it just makes you feel alive and alway feel great afterwards especially when you get your cosy socks on after. ”

Stay safe

While the cold can indeed give your body a boost, it’s important to swim safely, especially in the winter. Swim Ireland are an excellent resource for anyone looking to get involved, or to learn more. Their tips for open water safety include:

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
  • Bringing someone with you in case you get into difficulty.
  • Understanding the weather and currents and the effect it will have on the sea.
  • Getting in slowly to avoid cold water shock.
  • Knowing the signs of hypothermia, such as shivering and loss of dexterity in hands.

Ensuring you’re swimming safely means you can relax and enjoy the rush of endorphins.

It’s not just the Irish sea that has swimmers flocking to its shores, either. Tiana Jo Bender lives in the US, and regularly takes a dip to reap the health benefits. Her tips for getting in involve recruiting some brave souls. “Bring friends! We all count down from 3 and run into the ocean together. The rule is “don’t stop”. If you’re the one to chicken out or you go slower than the others, you make the process more painful for yourself.” When she can’t find an army of sea swimmers to brave the ocean with her, she goes alone. But warming up first means getting in is easier and safer. “If I’m on my own, I have to warm up my body first in order to motivate myself to get it. A quick run, a few planks, any sort of movement really helps.”

 


 

 

In the north, Hannah Gibson loves to swim at “Brompton Pier in Bangor and in the North Coast, especially Down Hill beach. Donegal is also amazing!” For her, being in the water is where she feels alive. “It feels like being so present and so whole.” The first dip is the hardest, and it never gets easier, but Hannah says “we too often become acclimatised to life’s discomforts.”

ADVERTISEMENT

If you’re making sea swims part of your 2022 plan, make sure you do it safely, and somewhere you’re familiar with. Grab your swimming togs (maybe even a wetsuit!) and a flask of tea for afterwards. And don’t forget the all important post-swim pic, because if you got yourself into the water, the world deserves to know.

Main image by Anastasia Taioglou via Unsplash

READ MORE

heart health
Featured

Maura Derrane implores women to take time to protect their heart health

September 20, 2023
friends
Featured

The ultimate Friends fan experience is coming to Dublin!

September 19, 2023
hotel breaks
Featured

These incredible hotel breaks will make you want to book a staycation immediately

September 14, 2023
pet bereavement
Family

The hidden pain of pet bereavement – how to cope with the loss of a beloved friend

September 14, 2023
Psychodermatology: what is it, and how can it improve our skin?
Beauty

Psychodermatology: what is it, and how can it improve our skin?

September 13, 2023
breakfast muffins
Featured

Recipe: Raspberry and banana breakfast muffins

September 12, 2023
Load More
ADVERTISEMENT
IRISH COUNTRY MAGAZINE

© 2022 Irish Country Magazine

IRISH COUNTRY MAGAZINE

  • Terms of service
  • Privacy statement
  • Advertise
  • eMagazine
  • Download gift card
  • Contact
  • Cookie Settings
  • Find a Retailer

Follow Us

  • Inside the issue
  • Irish Made
    • Irish Made Awards
  • Style
  • Food
  • Sustainability
  • Beauty
    • BIAB Nails
    • Hair
    • Health & Fitness
    • Makeup
    • Skincare
  • Interiors
  • Weddings
  • Win
  • More
    • Culture
    • Family
    • Gardening
    • Health
    • The Invisible Struggle
    • Travel
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result

© 2022 Irish Country Magazine