National - Event Notice
Thursday January 01 1970
Annual CABHAIR Christmas Swim.
national |
history and heritage |
event notice
Wednesday October 06, 2010 15:07
by Sharon. - Individual.
An annual fundraiser for the families of Irish POW's.
This coming December 25th will mark the 34th consecutive CABHAIR Christmas Day Swim in the Grand Canal , Dublin !
The CABHAIR Christmas Day Swim will be 34-years-young on the 25th December 2010 !
Hi !
It began - properly structured and organised - in 1976 ,as a ‘fundraiser with a difference’ , combined with the need to gain extra publicity for a situation which was then - as now - making world headlines . Those that sat down together in early September 1976 to tighten-up the then ‘hit-and-miss’ affair were a dedicated team who fully understood that to fail in their business would not only bring derision on them and the issue they sought to highlight , but would give their enemy a publicity coup which they would exploit to the fullest extent . With that in mind , the team persevered - favours were called-in , guarantees were secured , provisions obtained and word dispatched to like-minded individuals in the near-locale . At the appointed time on the agreed day - 12 Noon , Christmas Day 1976 - a soon-to-be 34-years-young event was ‘born’…….
The CABHAIR Christmas Day Swim is , thankfully , still going strong and will be , as mentioned , 34-years-young on December 25th next!
Sponsored Swim * Christmas Day * 12 Noon * Grand Canal * 3rd Lough* Inchicore* Dublin*
Pics and a write-up re the 2009 Swim can be seen at the 'Related Link' below.
All Welcome!
Thanks,
Sharon.
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Comments (14 of 14)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14there seems to be no end to this swim,I can remember it for at least the last 30 years and i'm not a republican supporter.But credit where its due to ye for keeping it going.
Hi Greg!
Thanks for your message - much appreciated!
This coming Christmas day will be the 34th consecutive CABHAIR Canal Swim , and some of those that are on the Organising Committee have been there since the first one.
Whether you're a republican supporter or not , you're very welcome to come along on the day - it's a good Cause , and great craic!
Thanks!
Sharon.
And the Flag is up......for the 34th on the 25th!
Hi !
At the time of writing , there are seven swimmers confirmed for this event , with another two 'possibilities' , and the local shops , pubs and off-licences etc have, between them , donated enough 'goodies' to fill a small van - go raibh míle maith agaibh as bhur gcúnamh, a Chairde !
(Thanks to M O'F for the pic)
Thanks,
Sharon.
Christmas Swim , 3rd Lough , Inchicore , 1979 : we probably (!) won't have the sunshine, but no matter !
I wont be in Dublin this year but it is great to see this lunatic tradition still happening!
Hi Stephen !
Thanks for your message of support - much appreciated , and I'll be sure to pass it on, on Christmas Day . Wish I could argue with you re the swimmers being "lunatics" , but I can't ;-) !
Thanks!
Sharon.
'Robert Emmet Cumann' banner , 25th December 1979 Christmas Swim , Inchicore.
Hi !
Despite ice on the Grand Canal , and 12 inches of snow on the banks , the CABHAIR Swim went ahead , almost as planned - we moved 'site' , slightly , and were later than usual in starting.
A more detailed report , and about two dozen pics , can be seen via the 'Related Link' , below.
Thanks!
Sharon.
"If I sneak in , it mightn't be too bad..."
"S'no joke , this CABHAIR Swim..."
Wow, I'm wowed by their dedication. I trust that their helpers got them back to normal body temperature soon after the dip.
Hi 'Wowed' !
Thank You for dropping in , and for the comment - appreciated !
All seven swimmers were a wee bit disoriented immediately after we took them out of the water but , after a few hot brandies/whiskies - or tea/coffee - and 20 minutes standing and/or sitting beside the fire , all recovered , with three of them wanting to dive in again !
However , the Organisers assured the three swimmers that they had 'earned their keep' and requested that they not enter the water again , as it was not necessary for them to do so , a second time. And, thankfully , they stayed put , on the snowy ground!
It was very rough just being 'on site' , as the conditions were freezing and treacherous underfoot , and I can only imagine what it must have been like in the water!
Thanks again for your comment.
Sharon.
A safety-rope being put in place - in the event , it wasn't needed , thankfully!
proud of the Republican Movement with such dedication ! well done, lads!!!!
Hi Lomansney!
Thanks for that - appreciated!
We know this thread is being read by Swim supporters and other interested parties in the Inchicore / Kilmainham area , and we want to say 'Thank You' to the pubs , off-licences , shops , garages etc in that area for all the 'goodies' which , as usual , they contributed - we had enough mince pies , all sort of drink , sweets , crisps etc etc for everyone!
It helped to 'make the day' -thanks.
Sharon.
"Below-freezing canal water ? Bah , humbug - lemme at it...!"
i thought it would have been postponed due to the snow and the ice and surprised to hear that it went ahead,but congrats to all involved for keeping to your word.
Thats rare in these politically corrupt times -well done cabhair and the swimmers.
Hi Stephen!
Thanks for the comment - appreciated.
It was the worst year , so far , weather-wise but , by all accounts , it's shaping-up to be the best year , financially , for the Organisers.
I think they are hoping for similar weather for the next one , too....
;-)
Thanks again !
Sharon.
Classy. Very classy. My favourite picture is the one with the kid apparently making a bonfire of himself in a chair. Definitely one for the Darwin awards. More like this, please!
Hi Caoimghín !
There is no such picture on this thread , Caoimghín - did Darwin not wear his glasses either , I wonder....?
Thanks anyway !
Sharon.