The pool is a wonderful amenity for West Cork, teaching both adults and children the wonderful skill of swimming.

It is almost unique in its method of water filtration too – using a non-chemical method with UV light that makes the water feel like silk – as Ciarán explained.

Having been brought up in a house with swimming at its core, Ciarán has had a lifelong love of the sea and watersports and has travelled the world to indulge his passion.

He spoke to editor Siobhán Cronin recently, about his decision to take over at the Water School, and continuing his father Clive’s incredible legacy and vision.

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Organised by Marguerite McQuaid, secretary of Creative Bandon, the annual festival enjoys a varied arts programme, marking the start of the Halloween season in West Cork.

For this month’s podcast, host and Southern Star editor Siobhán Cronin was joined by three wonderful guests to discuss the theme of ‘Women and Water’.

Women and Water – even the words have a wonderful symbiosis … they both begin with w, they both contain two syllables and of course, water is the source of all life, as are women.

It’s no wonder women feel so connected to H2O.

Siobhán’s guests – who dive deep into the subject matter – are author, extreme swimmer and businesswoman Nuala Moore from Dingle; Durrus-based yoga teacher, wild swimming enthusiast and children’s swimming coach Dominique Corcoran, and educator and sea enthusiast Katie McShane, the founder of Wise Water, based in Kinsale.

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She undertook the swim after the incredible support the charity gave, and continues to give, her family, following the death of her niece’s son, just five days after his birth.

But she also undertook it because it marked 50 years since the death of her own twin brother, who survived for just one day.

She spoke to podcast host Siobhán Cronin recently about her love of the sea and how she inherited that trait from her father, who passed on his love of water to her, at a very young age.

To donate to LauraLynn see: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/OrlaghPatterson or www.lauralynn.ie

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Having spent her childhood summers on Inchydoney Beach, the Clonakilty woman has continued her love affair with the popular strand and can be seen there most mornings splashing about in the waves or swimming short distances for health and well-being. 

She admits that her much-publicised trials and tribulations at the hands of a vulture fund in recent years have left her seeking the solace of the salty water more than ever. 

But she is also actively involved, along with other Inchydoney locals, in research, spear-headed by UCC, to monitor the ongoing coastal erosion at her beloved beach. 

As a result of this, the BBC recently shot an episode of its Storyworks series at Inchydoney, featuring Dena, and the story of coastal erosion.

But for now, here’s a little chat our editor Siobhán Cronin had with Dena about her lifelong fascination with saltwater. 

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Over its six years of operation, it has raised almost a half-million euro for local charities.

He joined editor Siobhán Cronin recently to chat about the origins of the hugely popular event and why it’s a ‘must-do’ on so many swimmers’ calendars.

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This episode was produced and presented by Siobhán Cronin, with editing by Tony O'Shaughnessy.

Thanks for listening to The Southern Star's From A to Sea Podcast. Please be sure to like, share and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Listen to our previous episodes by clicking here.

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He has swam the Gibraltar Straits, and completed several relay swims including the four-person English Channel, Lake Zurich, Alcatraz, Robben Island and, locally, Fastnet to Schull.

But these days Ossi is best known as the founder of the GaddinAbtGarnish swim event that takes place twice each summer, over to or around the stunning island off Glengarriff.

Just ahead of entries opening for the second swim this summer, Ossi came down to Lough Hyne to chat to us about the origins of one of Ireland’s most popular charity swims.

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This episode was produced and presented by Siobhán Cronin, with editing by Dylan Mangan.

Thanks for listening to The Southern Star's From A to Sea Podcast. Please be sure to like, share and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Listen to our previous episodes by clicking here.

For stories like this and more, pick up a copy of this week's Southern Star or subscribe online via www.southernstar.ie/epaper.

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He joined Southern Star editor Siobhán Cronin recently to explain exactly what a ‘Lido’ is, and why Ireland’s second city so badly needs – and deserves – one.

The possible site of the Lido in Cork city.

Kenny says that a possible site could be along Kennedy Quay, near the train station, where Cork County Council bought land from the Port of Cork Authority.

A possible design for the Lido.

Tune in now to hear more about the campaign, why Cork deserves a Lido and the benefits a city can see from embracing its river.

This episode was produced and presented by Siobhán Cronin, with editing by Dylan Mangan.

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Thanks for listening to The Southern Star's From A to Sea Podcast. Please be sure to like, share and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

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As well as completing documentary series' for RTÉ, Ken was cameraman on BBC’s Atlantic – Wildest Ocean on Earth series, a CBC Canada documentary on jellyfish and ITV’s Britain’s Whales and Britain’s Sharks documentary.

His series on the North Atlantic, The Dark Ocean was hugely popular when it was shown on RTE last year. It revealed never-before-filmed behaviours of our stunning marine creatures, with an original soundtrack performed by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

Ken has also made a ten-minute movie on West Cork elite swimmer Steve Redmond.

He recently spoke to Southern Star editor Siobhán Cronin from his home in Lahinch, Co Clare, not far from where he grew up.

This episode was produced and presented by Siobhán Cronin, with editing by Dylan Mangan. Listen below.

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She's a swimming teacher, an open water swimming coach and a level one triathlon coach.

McKnight started her swim teaching career on board cruise ships, and from there moved to the Cayman Islands, but every Sunday morning she takes a group for a swim off the slipway at the Fastnet Marine Centre in Schull.

Southern Star editor Siobhán Cronin joined them recently, but before that had a great chat with McKnight in the town's Harbour Hotel.

This episode was produced and presented by Siobhán Cronin, with editing by Dylan Mangan.

***

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Nuala’s earliest memory is of jumping off her father’s fishing boat in Dingle and swimming back to shore. Since then, she’s swum in some of the coldest, remotest and most dangerous waters in the world, from the Bering Strait to the Drake Passage.

After years of marathon swimming, Nuala struggled to balance sacrifice and achievement. Her work–life balance, coupled with caring for her father, forced a change in her pathway. She turned to ice swimming.

Nuala believes that everyone is capable of greatness, whatever shape that might take.

Her incredible memoir talks about her initial dive into the world of marathons and triathlons and how she eventually came back to her one true love – the ocean.

Southern Star editor Siobhán Cronin travelled to Dingle to meet Nuala inside her beautiful little linen shop, where they talked about Nuala’s drive to constantly challenging herself, from scuba diving to swimming, and the world’s fascination with cold water.

This episode was produced and presented by Siobhán Cronin, with editing by Dylan Mangan.

***

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Since the 90s she has been visiting Iceland whenever she could get the chance – and whenever her wallet would allow.

Her most recent visit was just a few weeks ago, as the earthquakes rattled the region near the main airport and the people of this wonderful land were in fear of a dormant volcano erupting at any moment.

On the Saturday morning of her long weekend, Siobhán happened to visit the local beach outside Reykjavik and just by pure good timing and luck, stumbled up on a group of local women enjoying their regular dipping routine.

Siobhán's friend, a Reykjavik local, was able to introduce her and within minutes she found herself togging out for a dip on the magnificent beach overlooking the city.

These women are amazing. They meet three times a week and do a short meditation before the swim, as well as opening what they call their ‘complaints department’ where anyone in the circle of friends can vent their anger or upset about anything at that moment.

That morning swimmer Margaret said she was anxious about the events at the time and everyone shared in that anxiety. But she said she realised that nothing would improve her mood better than a dip with her lady friends in the ocean.

These women don’t wear wetsuits, just neoprene gloves, boots and distinctive yellow hats.

These inspiring women formed the Happier You swimming group during Covid, when their usual hot-spring pools were closed to the public.

Siobhán just had to learn more about these delightful women, living on the island which is our closest northern neighbour, so she invited Tinna, Margaret and Klara on the podcast to share their story.

This episode was produced and presented by Siobhán Cronin, with editing by Dylan Mangan.

***

Thanks for listening to The Southern Star's From A to Sea Podcast. Please be sure to like, share and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Listen to our previous episodes by clicking here.

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Through her work with the RNLI, she has touched many families and seen both tragedy and joy at close range. 

Her own personal life has brought her into contact with both, too – as she has become a very vocal advocate for cancer research, and is now in recovery from pancreatic cancer – one of the toughest cancers to defeat. 

She also organises one of West Cork’s most popular open water swims – the annual Union Hall swimming fundraiser for the RNLI. It has raised almost €100,00 for the RNLI over the past ten years.

Here she talks about her relationship with the sea, how it has helped in her recovery, and how organising the Union Hall swim helped keep her focused during some of the most challenging days of her cancer treatment.

This episode was produced and presented by Siobhán Cronin, with editing by Dylan Mangan.

***

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Ken is also the first man to ever swim from the Fastnet Rock to Crookhaven, having always harboured a dream of swimming up the channel between the Alderman Rocks and Rock Island, and walk up the steps at the pier into O’Sullivans for a pint!

He did just that, and a lot more, in his relatively recent sea swimming endeavours.

He told podcast presenter Siobhán Cronin all about it, on a zoom call from his Dublin home.

This episode was produced and presented by Siobhán Cronin, with editing by Tony O'Shaughnessy.

***

Thanks for listening to The Southern Star's From A to Sea Podcast. Please be sure to like, share and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Listen to our previous episodes by clicking here.

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On the latest episode of From A To Sea, Siobhán travels to Killary in Galway to take part in the Gaelforce Great Fjord Swim, accompanied by two of her nearest and dearest, Ballinspittle woman Bláthnaid O'Regan, and Anne Scallan.

Join them on their journey up to Galway, full of excitement and anticipation ahead of the big swim, and the return trip through some heavy rain and lightning storms!

Time well spent.

***

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Listen to our previous episodes by clicking here.

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Caulfield and Bament are both qualified level 2 open water & pool coaches and run West Cork Swim Coaching, which offers both private and group lessons for anyone wanting to flex their swimming muscles in West Cork.

This episode was produced and presented by Siobhán Cronin, with editing by Dylan Mangan.

***

Thanks for listening to The Southern Star's From A to Sea Podcast. Please be sure to like, share and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Listen to our previous episodes by clicking here.

For stories like this and more, pick up a copy of this week's Southern Star or subscribe online via www.southernstar.ie/epaper.

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ON this week's podcast, Southern Star editor Siobhán Cronin is joined some of the men behind the now world-famous Fastnet swim; swimmers and coaches Nathan Timmons, Steve Redmond, Noel Browne and their skipper Kieran Collins.

Over the past few years they have grown the status of the iconic swim to a point where it is now recognised among endurance swimmers across the world as one of the best around.

With its beautiful scenery and the personal, welcoming approach of the entire crew, the swim is attracting more applicants than ever who are keen to come to West Cork and tick it off the bucket list.

In the podcast we hear about why it has become so popular, what makes the location ideal for an endurance swim and some of the challenges that face any would-be swimmers.

This episode was produced and presented by Siobhán Cronin, with editing by Dylan Mangan.

***

Thanks for listening to The Southern Star's From A to Sea Podcast. Please be sure to like, share and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Listen to our previous episodes by clicking here.

For stories like this and more, pick up a copy of this week's Southern Star or subscribe online via www.southernstar.ie/epaper.

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A native of Rossnowlagh in Co Donegal, she was named after a well-known wave off the west coast, so maybe her fate was sealed from the start.

In July, Easkey will be appearing at the West Cork Literary Festival to talk about her latest book, Ebb and Flow.

Southern Star editor Siobhan Cronin met Ireland's amazing wave goddess over zoom, and chatted about the book, teaching surfing in Iran, menstrual cycles, white-outs, and so much more!

This is the second episode in our latest series focusing on sea swimming. Listen back to the previous episode with journalist and author Kathy Donaghy here.

Swimming became a lifeline for many during the pandemic, and so many have kept it going, which has left Ireland with a really strong and wonderful community.

Over the next few months, we will feature interviews with prominent figures in the swimming scene, from both West Cork and beyond.

Follow along with Siobhán's latest blog post, where she writes about getting ready for those organised summer swims, by clicking here.

This episode was produced and presented by Siobhán Cronin, with editing by Dylan Mangan.

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Donaghy's book, Finding My Wild: How a Move to the Edge Brought Me Home, tells her story of moving home from Dublin to the Inishowen peninsula with her young family.

It is ode to the extraordinary healing powers of immersing yourself in the natural world, especially the sea, and she joins the podcast to talk about why she made the move.

This is the second episode in our latest series focusing on sea swimming. Listen back to the first episode with total immersion swim coach Melissa Duncan here.

Swimming became a lifeline for many during the pandemic, and so many have kept it going, which has left Ireland with a really strong and wonderful community.

This episode was produced and presented by Siobhán Cronin, with editing by Dylan Mangan.

***

Thanks for listening to The Southern Star's In The News Podcast. Please be sure to like, share and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Listen to our previous episodes by clicking here.

For stories like this and more, pick up a copy of this week's Southern Star or subscribe online via www.southernstar.ie/epaper.

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Swimming became a lifeline for many during the pandemic, and so many have kept it going, which has left Ireland with a really strong and wonderful community.

Total immersion is a technique that involves running through swim strokes in a similar fashion to yoga, with the aim being to move through the water more efficiently. Melissa Duncan has been one of the biggest proponents of the technique in Ireland and joins the podcast to chat about the benefits of adapting to it.

Duncan runs The Swim Studio – Ireland's first total immersion swim coaching studio to be located in Ireland.

Follow along with Siobhán's latest blog post, where she writes about getting ready for those organised summer swims, by clicking here.

This episode was produced and presented by Siobhán Cronin, with editing by Dylan Mangan.

***

Thanks for listening to The Southern Star's In The News Podcast. Please be sure to like, share and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Listen to our previous episodes by clicking here.

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