Insurance costs kill off last Christmas swims
INSURANCE costs have killed off the last social Christmas swim in North Cork, ending a time honoured festive tradition and hitting charities and good causes in the pocket - to the tune of hundreds of thousands of euro.
It as announced this week that the New Year’s Day swim at the Boeing in Millstreet has been cancelled due to soaring insurance costs. The cancellation comes after the Christmas Day swim in Newmarket, which had been running for 35 years, met its demise last year for similar reasons.
Between them, the two swims raised close to €250,000 for various charities and good cause down the years. However, it was the social aspect of the events that drew people in, with food and drinks being served by the water and a festive atmosphere very much in evidence each year.
Two seasonal swims remain in north Cork, in Mallow and Fermoy, where both are undertaken by trained divers only in full regalia.
“The insurance costs were on the rise each year and, coupled with administration prices, it made it impossible to stage the 2019 event,” said Boeing swim co-ordinator Eileen Tarrant. “It’s absolutely devastating. That’s sure to be disappointing for so many people. A terrific atmosphere surrounded each event ... every cent raised over the past 10 years went to a nominated charity with a total of €43,000 presented to various groups.”
Reacting to the news, local TD Michael Moynihan said “there is a very worrying trend emerging where charity events such as swims, walks, runs, parades and festivals are struggling to secure public insurance ... the Christmas Swim part and parcel of what Christmas in Millstreet is.”
UNTENABLE insurance premiums are killing off Christmas festivities and hitting hard-pressed charities in the pocket also.
Last Christmas, an annual swim in Newmarket, which had taken place for 35 consecutive years, was cancelled, largely due to prohibitive insurance costs. This year, the ten-years-old Boeing Swim in Millstreet has now been cancelled, again due to insurance.
Between them, the two swims raised close to €250,000 for various charities and good cause down the years.
Soaring insurance premiums have forced the cancellation of the annual Millstreet New Year’s Day swim on the river Blackwater at the scenic Boeing location.
The charity event was planned to go ahead for an 11th time, but because of surges in the cost of public liability cover, voluntrary organisers were left with no alternative but to forego the 2019 hosting.
Co-ordinator Eileen Tarrant expects more festivals and outdoor events will be forced to shut down because of the insurance crisis, a move that will be a huge blow to local community activity.
“There will be no swim at the Boeing on New Year’s Day; it’s absolutely devastating,” she said.