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Liam Counihan, Bríd McCarthy, Tony O’Connor and Muriel Soden emerge from the sea after the DIP AT Dawn in Fenit on Summer Solstice, June 21.
A LOCAL man was joined by a few fellow early risers for the ‘Dip At Dawn’ for Vision Ireland at Fenit on Friday last.
Billy Ryle led the swim in Fenit and described the event as an emotional event of extraordinary symbolism.
The swimmers were in Fenit at 5am to watch the darkness break into light over Tralee Bay on a dry, overcast morning before taking a dip in the breaking waves.
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As a few sun rays penetrated the clouds, Billy said his thoughts turned to the two deceased individuals who bequeathed the gift of sight to him when he needed a corneal transplant in each of his eyes in 2022.
Billy Ryle was in Fenit at dawn on Friday, 21st June to greet the Summer Solstice
He also said a silent prayer for the blind and visually impaired people for whom the journey through life is challenging. Vision Ireland is dedicated to helping them overcome the barriers that impede their independence and participation in society.
The novel fundraiser for Vision Ireland was the brainchild of Senator Martin Conway of Ennistymon, Co. Clare, who has lived most of his life with sight loss.
He encouraged the public to take a ‘Dip At Dawn on the longest day in the year as a symbol of support for the 296, 000 people in Ireland who are blind or visually impaired.
Billy Ryle’s fundraising page for the DIP AT DAWN is now open at www.vi.ie and at the fundraising platform, www.idonate.ie and he is appealing to people throughout the county to prove how generous Kerry people are by digging deep for Vision Ireland.
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