Bench unveiled in memory of Forty Foot swimmer

A bench has been unveiled in Dún Laoghaire in memory of Thomas Doherty, a swimmer who died at the Forty Foot nearly three decades ago.

Originally from Donegal, Doherty settled in the mid-1950s in Dalkey, Co Dublin, where he made his living running a garage.

His son, Michael, said he quickly started swimming at the popular bathing spot and would go out every day, year round, in all types of weather.

“He swam every day that he was in the area until the day he died,” said Michael. “He used to joke with us coming in for Sunday lunch that he’d be happy if he died in the Forty Foot. Unfortunately, in 1987 that’s exactly what did happen.”

Thomas was in his 70s and had been suffering from a heart condition when he died in the water on August 11th of that year.

‘Incredibly tough’

“He was an incredibly tough man,” said his son, who was joined at the unveiling by his mother, Elizabeth, and sisters Paula and Elizabeth. “He would be in the water winter and summer, hail rain or snow – he wouldn’t miss his swim.

“He was a great man, he was our Forty Foot hero. It’s great to have this bench now as a memorial, 28 years after his death, for us to come along and remember him and to use the bench and, of course, for the public to use the bench.”

Fred Espey, president of the Sandycove Bathers’ Association, said he was delighted Doherty’s family had agreed to donate the seat on the Dún Laoghaire seafront.

“I think this is fantastic by the family, commemorating their dad and presenting this seat so that people can sit down and admire the bay in a public place,” he said.

“It’s where he would have walked quite regularly,” he added. “After his swim in the Forty Foot, he would have come for a walk up here.”

Sense of community

Mr Espey said the bathing spot still retains its sense of community. “A lot of people go down regularly. They meet friends down there, there’s great comradeship between all the people.

“They all have one thing in common: that is swimming in the open sea.”