Christmas Day is just around the corner, and thousands of people are gearing up to take part in Ireland's most popular tradition; the annual Christmas swim.
Many brave souls go for a dip on December 25 each year, some for a charity and others just for the craic. But as many experienced Christmas Day swimmers will tell you, it's not for the faint hearted so make sure to wrap up warm this year.
Here's the best spots in Dublin to soak up the atmosphere while soaking yourself in cold water on Sunday.
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The Forty Foot
The Sandycove swim is the most recognised and busiest of all the Christmas dips in the capital, with hundreds flocking to the ice-cold water every single year. This year it's likely to be as busy as ever, with queues of Santas waiting for their turn to jump off the rocks from the morning until the early afternoon.
The Christmas Day swim was first mentioned by James Joyce in his famous novel Ulysses, and ever since Dublin sea swimmers have loved this spot for generations. This year there are plenty of worthy charities to donate to land to share the festive joy.
However, swimmers who are bringing cars are strongly advised to arrive early in order to secure parking as the area is expected to be quite busy during the morning and afternoon.
Clontarf
This annual swim in Clontarf is organized by the Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club and raises money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Participants will gather at 1 pm on Christmas Day and run into the waters from the slipway across the road from the Boat Club.
Skerries
The annual Christmas Day swim in Skerries is held at 12pm on the slipway across from the Skerries Sailing Club. The town's residents usually gather at the slipway near Joe May's pub around noon.
It's set to be a cold experience this year with rain forecast on the big day, so make sure to bring plenty of towels and blankets.
Portmarnock
Every year, a charity Christmas swim is held at Portmarnock Beach in aid of St Francis Hospice in Raheny. This year the popular charity swim is set to take place at 11am.
In 2021, hundreds attended the famous Christmas dip and it's sure to be bigger than ever this year.
Balscadden Beach
The annual Christmas swim in Howth is usually organised by a group called Friends of Balscadden Beach and it takes place every year on the gorgeous Balscadden Beach. The beach boasts great views Great views of Ireland’s Eye from the water, and the famous cliffs at Howth Head.
The RNLI and Irish Coast Guard are urging members of the public to take care when doing a Christmas dip this year. Safety tips from the Coast Guard and the RNLI for open water swimming are:
- Always check the weather forecast and understand the local effects of wind, tides, and currents. (For weather and tides see safetyonthewater.gov.ie )
- Never swim alone and if possible, have somebody ashore who is familiar with your plans and can observe your progress.
- Only swim in sheltered areas with which you are familiar and swim parallel to the shore.
- Stay within your depth – know your limits including how long to stay in the water
- Ensure that you are visible from the shore. Wear a brightly coloured swim cap or use a tow float to increase your visibility in the water.
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