The Liffey Swim
Encyclopedia
The Liffey Swim is an annual race in Dublin's main river, the Liffey and is one of Ireland's most famous traditional sporting events. Swim Ireland
organises the event and it is managed by volunteers.
The race is the penultimate event in a season of 26 open water races held during the summer months and is held on a Saturday in either late August or early September. Entrants to the Liffey Swim must complete five races of the season to qualify. Many levels and ages of swimmers compete in the race, but entrants must be a member of a swimming club and be able to swim a mile. International competitors are common. The race is handicapped
with the slowest swimmers starting first and the fastest last.
, under the Ha'penny Bridge
and O'Connell Bridge
to finish at the The Custom House
. Average entry is 200 males and 80 females. Wetsuits are not allowed. The race is held in the tidal section of the river meaning it is flushed twice daily. The race often coincides with the Liffey Descent Canoe Race
. The water authority releases 30 million tons of clean water from the Liffey reservoir to raise the river to flood level for this event. Due to the tidal nature of the Liffey, race times vary from year to year.
in 1923. The race was swum at high tide when there were fewer pollutants. The first Liffey Swim had an entry of 27 male swimmers and was won by J.J Kennedy with Bernard Fagan himself coming in third. Fagan's son Jack Fagan later won the Liffey Swim in 1951. During the 1930s, 40s and early 50s the Liffey Swim attracted large crowds. The race has not changed length from being a distance of one and half miles (2.2 km) but the start and finish points have changed. The race originally started at Victoria Quay
, from a Guinness Barge and finished at Burgh Quay. In 1991 the first ladies race was introduced and in the early 1990s the race was moved 400 yards down river to start beside the Civic Offices and to finish opposite the Custom House.
The 2009 Liffey Swim was the 90th anniversary of the race and saw electronic timing used for the first time.
One of the earliest Liffey Swims was portrayed in the Jack B. Yeats 1923 painting entitled The Liffey Swim, which won him a silver medal at the Art competitions at the 1924 Summer Olympics
. This can now be viewed in the National Gallery of Ireland
.
provide decontamination showers at the finish. There have been concerns about the possibility of contracting Weil's disease in the Liffey as well as other safety concerns relating to pollution. Studies have found that E. coli levels in the Liffey are higher than EPA
standard levels.
Swim Ireland
Swim Ireland is the national governing body of swimming and associated aquatic disciplines in Ireland, including Northern Ireland. It is affiliated with both LEN and FINA.- History :...
organises the event and it is managed by volunteers.
The race is the penultimate event in a season of 26 open water races held during the summer months and is held on a Saturday in either late August or early September. Entrants to the Liffey Swim must complete five races of the season to qualify. Many levels and ages of swimmers compete in the race, but entrants must be a member of a swimming club and be able to swim a mile. International competitors are common. The race is handicapped
Handicapping
Handicapping, in sport and games, is the practice of assigning advantage through scoring compensation or other advantage given to different contestants to equalize the chances of winning. The word also applies to the various methods by which the advantage is calculated...
with the slowest swimmers starting first and the fastest last.
Course
The race starts at the Watling Street Bridge near the Guinness Brewery and takes competitors past landmarks such as the Four CourtsFour Courts
The Four Courts in Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's main courts building. The Four Courts are the location of the Supreme Court, the High Court and the Dublin Circuit Court. The building until 2010 also formerly was the location for the Central Criminal Court.-Gandon's Building:Work based on...
, under the Ha'penny Bridge
Ha'penny Bridge
The Ha'penny Bridge , known later for a time as the Penny Ha'penny Bridge, and officially the Liffey Bridge, is a pedestrian bridge built in 1816 over the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland...
and O'Connell Bridge
O'Connell Bridge
O'Connell Bridge is a road bridge spanning the River Liffey in Dublin, and joining O'Connell Street to D'Olier Street, Westmoreland Street and the south quays.-History:...
to finish at the The Custom House
The Custom House
The Custom House is a neoclassical 18th century building in Dublin, Ireland which houses the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government...
. Average entry is 200 males and 80 females. Wetsuits are not allowed. The race is held in the tidal section of the river meaning it is flushed twice daily. The race often coincides with the Liffey Descent Canoe Race
Liffey Descent Canoe Race
The Liffey Descent Canoe Race canoe race is an annual down river canoe and kayak race, of some 18 miles in length, that has been held on the River Liffey in Ireland since 1960. It starts by the K Club above Straffan weir in County Kildare, and finishes by the Trinity Rowing Club in Dublin. It is...
. The water authority releases 30 million tons of clean water from the Liffey reservoir to raise the river to flood level for this event. Due to the tidal nature of the Liffey, race times vary from year to year.
History
The first Liffey Swim took place on the 22 July 1920. Bernard Fagan was the first to organise the race. Fagan was a swimmer and became a public health analyst for Dublin CorporationDublin Corporation
Dublin Corporation , known by generations of Dubliners simply as The Corpo, is the former name given to the city government and its administrative organisation in Dublin between 1661 and 1 January 2002...
in 1923. The race was swum at high tide when there were fewer pollutants. The first Liffey Swim had an entry of 27 male swimmers and was won by J.J Kennedy with Bernard Fagan himself coming in third. Fagan's son Jack Fagan later won the Liffey Swim in 1951. During the 1930s, 40s and early 50s the Liffey Swim attracted large crowds. The race has not changed length from being a distance of one and half miles (2.2 km) but the start and finish points have changed. The race originally started at Victoria Quay
Victoria Quay
Victoria Quay is a Scottish Government building situated in Leith, Edinburgh. Designed by Robert Matthew Johnson Marshall, construction began in 1993 and the building was officially opened by the Queen on Monday 1 July 1996...
, from a Guinness Barge and finished at Burgh Quay. In 1991 the first ladies race was introduced and in the early 1990s the race was moved 400 yards down river to start beside the Civic Offices and to finish opposite the Custom House.
The 2009 Liffey Swim was the 90th anniversary of the race and saw electronic timing used for the first time.
One of the earliest Liffey Swims was portrayed in the Jack B. Yeats 1923 painting entitled The Liffey Swim, which won him a silver medal at the Art competitions at the 1924 Summer Olympics
Art competitions at the 1924 Summer Olympics
Art competitions were held as part of the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. Medals were awarded in five categories , for works inspired by sport-related themes....
. This can now be viewed in the National Gallery of Ireland
National Gallery of Ireland
The National Gallery of Ireland houses the Irish national collection of Irish and European art. It is located in the centre of Dublin with one entrance on Merrion Square, beside Leinster House, and another on Clare Street. It was founded in 1854 and opened its doors ten years later...
.
Health issues
Dublin Fire BrigadeDublin Fire Brigade
The Dublin Fire Brigade is the local authority fire and rescue service for Dublin City and the majority of the Greater Dublin Area. It is a branch of Dublin City Council. There are currently 14 fire stations manned by DFB, 12 of which are full-time, the other 2 are part-time or "retained"....
provide decontamination showers at the finish. There have been concerns about the possibility of contracting Weil's disease in the Liffey as well as other safety concerns relating to pollution. Studies have found that E. coli levels in the Liffey are higher than EPA
Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland)
The Environmental Protection Agency has responsibilities for a wide range of licensing, enforcement, monitoring and assessment activities associated with environmental protection.-See also: * Conservation biology* Ecology* Environmental protection...
standard levels.