The Irish Long Distance Swimming Association hosted their 16th Annual Awards at the Carrickdale Hotel and Spa on Saturday 22nd of Feb with over 150 International and Irish guests in attendance.
With well over 250 certificates, medals and glassware presented on the evening, guests were entertained with a panel discussion featuring Brian Foster, a young 16-year-old from Cork who had completed three momentous marathon swims within the summer months including a two-way North Channel (70km) in just under 25hrs!!!
As with other years the awards welcomed the IRELAND Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame presented by Fergal Somerville and Salthill’s very own Paddy McNamara was inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2024 as an Honour Contributor.
A former member of the Irish Defence Forces Paddy is an ever present at Blackrock Diving Tower and Salthill. There, he encourages and motivates all comers to enjoy the challenges of open water swimming - guiding several all to way to take on some of the world's toughest marathon swims. For over 30 years and through many roles Paddy has supported and developed open water swimming in Connaught. Modest about his contribution to sport, he has contributed substantially to the growth in the number of swimmers and their success in marathon swims in Galway and further afield.
Carol Commons from Mayo won the 2024 Jimmy Cranny Connaught swimmer award. Carol has dedicated her last 4 years to try and complete the North channel, after 18 hours swimming, she did not finish, a tough pill to swallow but this didn’t put her off. She gave it another rattle this year but unfortunately fell short. This would knock most but not Carol and as part of her journey she completed Fastnet (21.5km) and Galway Bay (10.5km) this year. Carol deserves huge plaudits for never giving up. There is no doubt she’s going to push on and smash the NC in 2025. Carol was presented her award by Paddy McNamara on behalf of Blackrock Diving Tower Community who have sponsored this award for several years and former Connaught swimmer of the year Helen Colfer who is also a founding member of Atlantic Masters Swimming Club.
Paddy and Carol joined John in studio to talk about the awards.
Corrib Water Polo swimming club were awarded the Best Organised Event for the Corrib Summer Sea Series which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024. The event started out as a summer series for those who were used to competing in pool events during the winter. The event has grown year on year and now has over 220 swimmers in the league with 140 swimmers on the start line every week at Blackrock Diving Tower. This is a key event in the Connaught open water calendar and acts as a pathway for many swimmers to longer distance events. John Ryan was on hand representing sponsors Base2Race presenting the award to Paddy NcNamara and Ronan Oliver.
Galway Girl Dee Newell was a worthy winner of the Sheena Patterson Award. Whilst Dee has impressive swim CV having just returned from completing the False Bay swim in South Africa she also has an infectious energy about long distance open water swimming. She’s inclusive, supportive and a great role model for the sport. She has taken so many new swimmers under her wings she must have the wingspan of an albatross. Dee has coached, mentored and steered many individuals to achieve things that they themselves never thought possible. She is an advocate for safety in the sport and has a wealth of experience to share. She rarely has to be asked, but she always says yes to helping others.
The Margaret Smith award went to Annette Cullen who up till a few weeks ago called Galway her home. Living in Kinvara for the last few years Annette has become recognised as a go to person for marathon swimming advice and in particular for swimmers looking to swim in and around Galway Bay. With the ability to see the potential in others she has coached, mentored, crewed, observed, organised and supported many swimmers to achieve things they themselves may not have thought possible. With an unflappable can-do approach to make things happen and with a generous and kind heart she has been credited by her peers as a “mentor extraordinaire”.
Ciaran Olive and Ronan Oliver from Galway Swim Pilot were in attendance on the day as sponsors for the presentation of medals and certificates to swimmers who completed a Galway Bay Swim in 2024. The Galway Bay swim is a part of the Irish Triple Crown of swims which also includes the Fastnet Swim (21.5km) and the North Channel (35km). In 2024 there were 17 one-way solos completed, 3 solo two ways completed, the first ever two-way relay by an female team which included local swimmer Oonagh Morrissey who stepped into the team at the 11th hour when a team member pulled out the evening before the swim was due to happen as well as the first ever Galway Bay swim completed using the butterfly stroke which was done by Helen Betley from the UK.
