CLOSE ON 360 hardy souls will brave the elements next Saturday when they participate in Dublin’s annual Liffey Swim.
A total of 237 men and 114 women ranging in age from 12 to 70 will do battle in separate races which will be sponsored by Dublin City Council.
The men’s race will start at 1.30pm with the women’s race getting under way at 2.15pm.
Eleven women from overseas will travel for the race while one man, David Dabertin, is travelling from the US state of Indiana to participate in the event which is now in its 91st year.
The first Liffey swim took place in July 1920.
Starting at Watling Street Bridge, near the Guinness Brewery, each race over 2.2km, will pass the Four Courts, Ha’penny Bridge and Liberty Hall before finishing at Custom House Quay.
The race is the second last event in a season of 26 open-water races held during the summer months. Entrants to the Liffey Swim must complete four qualifying open-sea races in order to take part. Spokeswoman for Dublin City Council Angela Walsh said: “The race is also handicapped with the slowest swimmers starting first and the quickest last. “Experienced swimmers like Shane Drumm and Séamus Stacey will start eight minutes after the first contestants commence.”
Dublin is the only capital city in Europe that hosts such a competitive race and according to Ms Walsh, the event is becoming more popular with every passing year.
“The numbers are up on previous years in particular for the female race,” she said.
“It’s very much a family event and it’s all a bit of fun for a perpetual cup which is handed back every year.”