13 swimmers, triathletes and life guards have commenced intensive training ahead of a charity swim from The Aran Islands to Doolin.
The three women and ten men will swim the 10km crossing from Pier on Inisheer, the smallest of the islands, to Doolin pier on 21 August next.
Launching details of the Aran Swim, which will raised funds for Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, outgoing Mayor of Clare Councillor Tony Mulcahy said: “I would like to congratulate the organisers and participants of this charity swim which will raise much needed funds for the hospital.”
“This is a very exposed stretch of open water with strong currents and potentially rough seas. Intensive training has already begun to maximise chances of achieving this goal and I wish each and every one of the participants the best of luck”, added the Mayor.
Participants include Seamus Mulcahy (Limerick native living in Ennis), Aoife Cosgrove (Tuam native living in Ennis), Colm Fitzgerald (Shannon), Linda Clarke (Dublin), Pat Finn, Adrian Cosgrove, Niall O’Farrell, Kevin O’Farrell, Cian O’Sullivan, Mikey Milane and Donal McCarth (all Ennis), and Paul Kearney and Deirdre Kearney (both Limerick).
Event participant Aoife Cosgrave explained: “Apart from the sheer joy of the challenge we hope to involve our friends and families by asking them not only to support us in our endeavours, but to help us raise funds for this year’s chosen charity, Temple Street Children’s Hospital. One of our swimmer’s children have been successfully treated by the wonderful staff there.”
Ms. Cosgrave added: “Temple Street Children’s University Hospital provides care to sick or injured children from all over Ireland. The hospital prides itself on striving to provide only the very best standard of care available to every single child that passes through their doors. However, the hospitals dedicated team of carers highly relies on fundraising and the generosity of supporters nationwide to aid the hospital in strengthening its position at the forefront of paediatrics in Ireland. Currently the hospital is raising funds for a new Neurosurgery unit which will be heavily dependent on fundraising events held across the country.”
She added that the group is currently looking for sponsorship to assist it in its fundraising drive.
For more visit www.mycharity.ie/event/aranswimchallenge or www.swimaran.wordpress.com, call Pat Finn on 086-3133602 or email padraigmacfhinn@gmail.com.
For more see www.facebook.com/pages/Swim-Aran-Challenge/305124369333
