There are few moments that compare.
Which may just be why so many of us make the pilgrimage each and every week to swim in the freezing waters of the Irish Sea.
Here in Dublin, the history of sea-swimming is a storied one. From the appearance of the Forty Foot in James Joyce’s Ulysses to the hardy perennial sea-swimmers, the coast has long held an appeal for locals and visitors alike.
And with open-water swimming winning fans across the globe, the Irish Sea is attracting a whole new generation of sea-swimmers.
Come rain, hail or snow — seldom sun — swimmers come together, gathering in the morning, afternoon or evening in local swimming spots like the Forty Foot, Sandycove, Clontarf, Vico or further along the coast in Malahide or Skerries.
While for others like me, it’s a weekend event — a way to mark the end of one week and the start of another.
From a desire to experience the feeling of total lightness that descends the minute you dive under, to the connection the sea offers to the natural cycle of the seasons, the ritual of swimming is one that appeals to many of us.
And whatever the reason we make the journey to the sea, one thing is clear — we’re hooked. In fact, it just might be the best thing that’s happened to us.
