Dive in: wild swimming in Ireland

Wild swimming is swimming outdoors in lakes, rivers and the sea, with devotees saying it promotes a healthy mind and body. With books like I Found My Tribe by Ruth Fitzmaurice capturing the public mood, Cork distance swimmer Ned Denison (sandycoveswimmers.com) says the numbers for their club are growing yearly with 800 members currently in their Facebook group.

“It’s social and fun. There’s nothing like a dip in the water in the morning — the whole day is easier after that,” he says.

Marketing Manager of the University of Limerick Activity Centre, Andree Walkin, says their swim classes on Lough Derg (left), which begin in May, are also growing every year. “People get fed up of stuffy indoor pools and being outside puts them in a different mood,” says Walkin.

“Wetsuits keep people warm and create buoyancy but some prefer to swim in togs all year round.”

For more information on wild swimming spots around the country, visit outdoorswimming.ie.