The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Goodbye, comfort... Hello Atlantic waves!
THOUSANDS TAKE ON CHRISTMAS SWIM TRADITION
TO some, it goes against everything that’s typical of Christmas. Getting up on the morning of December 25 and shunning the comfort of the sitting room to plunge into an icy Atlantic isn’t a plot-line you’ll find in many Christmas tales.
But there are many others who start the most wonderful day of the year in exactly untypical style – and wouldn’t dream of doing it differently.
From Portmagee to Banna, and from Dingle to Derrynane, many hundreds took the literal plunge. If you doubted the strength of these events’ suitability as a Christmas tradition, you need only look to Fenit, for example, which has held December 25 swims since 1952 and this year PJ Costello led the charge for his 66th consecutive Christmas dip alongside 750 keen swimmers!
You must also consider that Kerry’s swims raise much-needed funds for a range of worthy causes – making the icy pain a more than worthwhile gesture.
For instance, people raced from Cnuicín Pier in Portmagee for Kerry Cancer Support Services; Fenit did its bit for its local RNLI; Tigh an Oileáin and University Hospital Kerry (UHK) will benefit from the bravery of Valentia’s swimmers; Ballinskelligs swimmers landed to the local beach for Jigsaw Kerry and Inshore Rescue while 400 swimmers helped boost funds for the Ballybunion Sea Cliff and Rescue service on their 32nd Christmas Day fundraiser.
Yes, it might feel nicer to sit by the fire; or throw on “The Wizard of Oz” or “It’s a Wonderful Life”; or tuck into the box of Roses.
But there really are few things as Christmassy, believe it or not, as taking on the harsh temperatures and the unwelcoming, foamy waves of a classic Christmas morning – whether you’re brave enough to submerge yourself or stick with the altogether less taxing “ankle-high” approach is another matter entirely.