Virtual Lough Gill Swim this month
THIS month would normally see large crowds gather at Doorly Park to cheer on the swimmers completing the Lough Gill swim for the Northwest Hospice.
This year, organisers were hoping for the best swim yet as it marks ten years since the first event.
However, with Covid-19 meaning fundraising events like these had to be postponed, organisers of the swim, in memory of the late Neill McGarry decided to host the event virtually instead.
Since its formation, the Lough Gill swim has raised a whopping €263,360.92 for the Northwest Hospice, one of the charity’s biggest annual fundraising events.
To remember Neill in 2020 and to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the event, the committee have decided that only one swimmer will swim Lough Gill this year on August 15th. That swimmer is Lynsey Dunne. Lynsey is the only swimmer to swim the Lough Gill 10K for 9 consecutive years and has been a member of the Lough Gill Swim Committee from the very start. Lynsey started the Lough Gill journey and the committee say they feel that it is only fitting that Lynsey would mark the 10th anniversary.
Swimmers from across the county and further afield are busy completing their own swims in pools, lakes and the sea.
It is up to each swimmer to ensure that adequate safety is maintained for each swim regardless how long or short. Among the swimmers doing their bit for the Northwest Hospice is Mark Elliott. The Sligo man is busy preparing for his challenge this Sunday.
He is aiming to swim one kilometre on the hour for 10 hours in three different counties on the day. No mean feat by any account!
Mark told The Sligo Champion that training has been going good and he’s looking forward to the challenge. “There’s 10 locations in three counties; Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal. The logistics teams are set up and I’m starting in Bundoran and finishing in Dorrins Strand. It is a big challenge I suppose and it’s something different. Because of Covid-19, the regular Lough Gill swim couldn’t take place and I thought the Northwest Hospice might be a bit stuck for fundraising so I said I would give it a go. The initial plan was to do 4k in Lough Gill, Glencar and Dorrins Strand but then I decided to do 10 locations. The areas are Bundoran, Mullaghmore, Streedagh, Rosses Point, Glencar, Hazlewood, Doorly Park, Aughamore, Kellystown and finishing in Killaspugbrone. It will be tide dependent on the day and we have to figure that out but the night before we should have a fair idea from looking at the weather charts. I’m doing it in skins too. I have a crew with me and I’m hoping that swimmers will join along the way, they are more than welcome, there will be updates on Facebook during the day. It is starting in Bundoran at 7am and the last swim will be at 4pm. On average it takes about 20 minutes to do one kilometre. I’ll be worn out!,” Mark laughed. “I have my crew set up to drive, Sam McGarry of the Lough Gill Swim organising committee, John Garvey and Paul O’Hare among others are the core team.
“I have an Everyday Hero fundraising page and hopefully on the day there will be money raised too.
“Lynsey (Dunne) is the only swimmer doing the route on the Saturday and best of luck to her too,” Mark added.
At the weekend, Ian and Maria Ryan from Strandhill presented a cheque for €2,000 to the Northwest Hospice from their fundraising with Ian completing the swim with many more around the county and indeed country doing their swims too.