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Anne O’Donnell who swam in aid of the Irish Kidney Foundation, with Daphne Marinho, Brendan Herbert, Brian O’Donnell, Sean O’Donnell, Bridget Herbert, Killian O’Donnell, John Herbert and Debra Marinho at the finish of the Across The Bay Challenge swim at Fenit on Saturday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
AN amazing 51 swimmers took to the water on Saturday morning to swim from Derrymore to Fenit in the ‘Across The Bay Challenge’.
Organised by Tralee Bay Swimming Club, the swim was held in aid of Fenit RNLI, but there were some individuals and groups raising funds for causes close to their hearts.
Each swimmer was accompanied by a kayaker and they faced tough conditions. Kevin Williams of Tralee Bay Swimming Club coached many of the swimmers who were taking on the challenge for the first time.
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One such swimmer was Anne O’Donnell who was raising funds for the Irish Kidney Association.
“I’m exhilarated, I thought I’d never get in,” said Anne. “It’s very emotional. I didn’t expect it to be so choppy out there. I did a good bit of training for it with Kevin, so I’m delighted to get it done. I set a target of €1,000 and I tripled that, so I’m thrilled and I want to thank everyone for their generous donations.”
A group of four ladies — Caroline Crowley, Aisling Brosnan, Elaine Burrows Dillane and Sandra Martin — or ‘The Funky Femmes’ as they called themselves, also took to the water in aid of Baile Mhuire Day Care Centre.
Speaking just after she finished the swim, Caroline Corkery was very emotional.
“It was very, very tough out there,” she said. “I thought I’d never get across, but it’s absolutely brilliant we all did it together. I want to thank everyone who donated.”
A large crowd showed up on Lockes Beach in Fenit to cheer the swimmers home and lifeboat crews with buckets collected donations.
Kevin Williams was very happy with the day, but acknowledged the wind was a factor for the swimmers.
“The wind from the east made it a bit choppy and pushed the swimmers out, but once they got past the St Brendan’s statue they were past the worst,” he said. Scroll down for photos…
Mike O’Regan, Mark Sheehy and John Joe Sheehy at the end of the Across The Bay Challenge swim at Fenit on Saturday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Brian Stephenson at the finish of the Across The Bay Challenge swim at Fenit on Saturday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
Peter Lynch at the finish of the Across The Bay Challenge swim at Fenit on Saturday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Frank Stafford and Aoibhín Stafford at the finish of the Across The Bay Challenge swim at Fenit on Saturday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
Ger Kennedy, Karen Deenihan and Kevin Dennehy at the finish of the Across The Bay Challenge swim at Fenit on Saturday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
Tony Murphy at the finish of the Across The Bay Challenge swim at Fenit on Saturday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
Sharon Cahill at the finish of the Across The Bay Challenge swim at Fenit on Saturday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
Colette Murray, Colin Hext and family at the finish of the Across The Bay Challenge swim at Fenit on Saturday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
Mark Sheehy at the finish of the Across The Bay Challenge swim at Fenit on Saturday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
