Environment

Swimmer completes 13km Killary fjord challenge

Swim aims to raise funds for baby nephew with rare chromosomal condition

Matthew O’Flaherty in Salthill after a training session for his Killlary fjord swim. Photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy
Matthew O’Flaherty in Salthill after a training session for his Killlary fjord swim. Photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy
Lorna Siggins
Sun Jul 27 2014 - 16:22

A Galway man swam the length of Ireland’s only fjord in 3½ hours at the weekend.

Matthew O'Flaherty (34) who works as an electrician at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology completed the 13km distance of Killary fjord yesterday evening in weather conditions described as good.

He was undertaking the challenge to raise funds for his baby nephew, Ryan Brennan, who was born with a rare chromosomal condition, Mosaic Trisomy 9, and requires constant care.

A number of walkers and runners accompanied Mr O’Flaherty on land along the shoreline.

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Mr O’Flaherty has previously swam the fjord in aid of the Irish Red Cross community ambulance service, which extends from Leenane to Maam.

Lorna Siggins

Lorna Siggins

Lorna Siggins is the former western and marine correspondent of The Irish Times