Go Niche

IF YOU FANCY a dirty weekend, you’re in luck. Next Saturday (September 10th) sees the third Irish Bog Snorkelling Championships take place in Doohamlet, Castleblaney, Co Monaghan.

The race card comprises a number of events, including fastest male and female, and fastest junior male and female. There is also a fastest relay team – how about that for a recession-friendly office bonding session?

In fact, according to organisers Declan Connolly and Ignatius McKinney, the entire event, this year themed “Bring the Craic Back”, is “all about escaping the current gloomy atmosphere”. There’s a poetic symmetry to it too, given that, as a nation, our future prospects are about as clear as mud.

But enough of that. There’ll be a barbecue, a bouncy castle and face painting for the kids, so even if you don’t fancy the mud-bath element yourself, it should be a fun day out.

If you are inclined to take the plunge, however, all that is expected of you is to propel yourself along a 60m strip of water in the fastest time possible, using flipper power.

Breathing is done through your snorkel and the organisers will provide you with both snorkel and flippers on the day. You can even don a wetsuit if you fancy.

Entry costs €20 and proceeds from the event go to the Lorgan Ward and Day Care Unit in St Mary’s Hospital in Castleblaney.

All participants bag themselves skin as smooth and silky as bog butter, but winners can also get a voucher worth €250 from Ógra, the peat-based (honestly) skin care product maker.

irishbogsnorkelling.com