Silver Jubilee Of The ‘Twelve Swims Of Christmas’ At Fenit Bathing Slip

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Among the swimmers who took part in the silver jubilee ‘twelve swims of Christmas’, at the bathing slip in Fenit were Dara Foley, Paddy Kissane, Billy Ryle and Fionán Harty, whose late father Fionán, the popular Tralee Pharmacist at CH Chemists, took part in the very first Christmas swim at the bathing slip in 1952.

FENIT bathing slip swimmers maintained a long-standing tradition by once again taking on the ‘12 swims of Christmas.’

Tralee Swimming Club members first took on the challenge 25 years ago and have never since failed to complete it. Over the years they have battled wind, rain, frost, snow and ice to plunge into the freezing sea at the bathing slip during the Christmas period.

Eleven of the twelve swims take place at the bathing slip as the swimmers always join in the Christmas Day dip at Locke’s Beach.

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This year, the swimmers enjoyed a daily dip in water measuring 10C during a mild Christmas period. Most of the onlookers encourage the swimmers.

Others jocosely describe them as crazy, mad and insane. The intrepid swimmers maintain that the dip in the cold water fortifies them against winter’s colds and flues. They believe that the endorphin rush from the exhilarating exercise keeps them happy, healthy and youthful.

The positive news about the restoration of the diving boards generated great excitement at the bathing slip this Christmas. Who knows, maybe a new tradition will begin next year – the twelve ice dives of Christmas!

Among the swimmers who took part in the silver jubilee ‘twelve swims of Christmas’, at the bathing slip in Fenit were Dara Foley, Paddy Kissane, Billy Ryle and Fionán Harty, whose late father Fionán, the popular Tralee Pharmacist at CH Chemists, took part in the very first Christmas swim at the bathing slip in 1952.

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