A group of six swimmers is attempting to become the first to swim around Ireland. They took to the water yesterday from Carrickfinn beach in northwest Donegal to swim the nearly 1,300km (800 miles) route in relay fashion. Swimming in a clockwise direction, they hope to swim up to 45 miles a day.
They are due to reach Howth, Co Dublin, next Friday, July 7th; Ballycotton, Co Cork on July 13th and Doolin, Co Clare on July 20th. They hope to be back at Carrickfinn on Sunday, July 30th.
However, the swim could take up to six or seven weeks if the elements are against them.
The event has taken over a year to plan, with the organisers having to take into account everything from tides and currents to shipping lanes. Already more than €10,000 for the RNLI's crew training fund has been raised.
The swimming team is led by Henry O'Donnell from Donegal. The other swimmers are brother and sister Ryan and Anne Marie Ward, also from Donegal, Ian Claxton from Dublin, Tom Watters from Galway and Nuala Moore from Kerry.
O'Donnell said: "You have to bear in mind that we will be going through a lot of places where there is a lot of marine activity, like Belfast Lough and Dublin Bay.
"Safety is paramount and we will have a fully trained support team and command vessel with us the whole time."
Derek Flanagan, the marine co-ordinator, added: "While we have charted out our route, so much is dependant on the weather so we must try and plan each day to get the maximum advantage from tides and currents. "