In terms of sporting prowess, there are few feats more prized by the populace of Tramore, Co Waterford, than completing the swim across the bay from Brownstown Head to the deep water bathing spot the Guillamene. It’s roughly 4.5km, all going well, and it’s known as the snámh mór.
The first record of anyone being crazy enough to swim a bay famous for its shoals, rip tides and shipwrecks was in September 1931.
Young Maisie Bishop swam from Brownstown Head to Great Newtown Head where the Metal Man stands on one of three navigational pillars, a warning to ships not to mistake the bay for the entrance to Waterford harbour.
In 1931, the Guillamene would have been ruled out as a landing spot for a woman as it was reserved for men only, so Maisie hopped into a boat somewhere under the Metal Man at the end of her swim.
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Those who have followed in Maisie’s wake can rightly take their place in the pantheon of local sporting heroes such as those on the team that won the Waterford minor county football and hurling championships in 1972, a unique double not repeated since. I was one of those unfortunates who made the team that failed dismally to emulate them the following year.
As for swimming the bay, I prefer to hug the coastline and can just about manage the 600 metres from Newtown Cove to the fabled Metal Man cave, which sparkles with sunlight when you swim through it on a nice day. It takes me about 10 minutes before I can walk straight afterwards.
Local swimming legend Jim Swift reckons that since the age of 15 he has swum the bay about 25 times with, and without, a wetsuit. He has done it in a time of 65 minutes, which is not surprising as he also swam the English Channel when he was 20. Seven years ago, he became the first person to circumnavigate Ireland on a paddle board and did it in 30 days for charity.
Jim has not been doing much swimming lately as he gives way to a new generation of Swifties with swimming ambitions of their own, namely his sons Deici (11) and Art (9).
On a warm Saturday last month, Deici became the youngest swimmer to cross the bay from Brownstown Head to the Guillamene, and he did it in a remarkable time of one hour 21 minutes despite having to give way to a trawler in the middle of the bay.
He had a point to prove. Two years ago, he had to give up halfway across the bay in a cold and choppy sea as a blanket of sea fog descended on him.
Deici managed to hold on to the bragging rights for just 10 minutes before nine-year-old Art reached the steps of the Guillamene where a small crowd including the boys’ mother Meadhbh and sister Síle burst into applause for a second time.
Art had a tough start to his swim. He was only a few minutes in the water at Brownstown Head when he was stung by what he describes as “big, massive jelly fish”.
But it’s amazing what a healthy dose of sibling rivalry can do to inspire you. Asked what kept him going, Art said: “Determination and he would have finished it and I wouldn’t.”
Throughout the swim, the boys were accompanied in kayaks, loaded with safety gear, by Jim and their grandfather Declan Swift. Declan also provided logistical support on Jim’s paddle board tour of Ireland.
Jim kindly agreed to let Irish Times readers in on the secret of a successful swim across Tramore Bay. “Wait for a low tide. When the tide is well and truly moving westwards away from Brownstown towards the Metal Man that’s the time to start,” he says.
And it’s better to take to the water before the afternoon sun warms the air and the onshore breeze picks up and the sea becomes choppy, as often happens to the delight of surfers.
Deici and Art started their swim at low tide at noon, so the first half-hour was calm, but thereafter they had to avoid swallowing too much water as the sea turned choppy. Their surf life-saving skills and the many hours they spent each week training with the Splashworld Sharks Swimming Club stood to them.
These two apples didn’t fall far from the tree. They clearly share their father’s spirit of adventure and they don’t give up easily. By all accounts, they are also good prospects for the Tramore minor football and hurling teams. No pressure lads, 1972 and all that.
