From A to Sea – The Southern Star Sea Swimming Podcast

Dec 13, 2024

CIARÁN Seawright runs the Water School at Pearson’s Bridge near Kealkil – the school his father built to share his love of water with others. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 12, 2024

The latest edition of the From A to Sea podcast was recorded in front of a live audience at Bandon Town Hall during the recent Banshee Festival. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 10, 2024

Cork woman Orlagh Patterson recently undertook a 1.8km charity swim around Sandycove Island outside Kinsale to raise funds for the LauraLynn foundation, Ireland’s only children’s hospice. 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 16, 2024

Hotelier Dena O’Donovan is a businesswoman, musician, entrepreneur and … daily sea swimmer. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 9, 2024

Hairdresser and Clonakilty native Justin Crowley is one of the people behind the iconic Galley Head 10km swim that takes place every year from Red Strand, past the lighthouse to the Warren Strand. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 10, 2024

Carmel Collins is a swim coach, award-winning ice swimmer and has just completed the Fastnet swim. Based near Cork city, she swims regularly at Sandycove in Kinsale, and spoke to Siobhán Cronin recently about some of her many swimming achievements. *** 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. For stories like this and more, pick up a copy of this week's Southern Star or subscribe online via www.southernstar.ie/epaper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 21, 2024

OSSI Schmidt is a legend in Open Water Swimming – he was involved in starting the Irish Open Masters Swimming Championships, brought the Global Open Water Swimming Conference to Cork in 2013 and became honorary recorder for the Irish Long Distance Swimming Association in 2019. 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. *** 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 23, 2024

NIALL Kenny is an open water marathon swimmer and a Cork native. But, most importantly, he is the man behind the campaign for a Lido in Cork. 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. *** Follow Cork CLG on Facebook , Instagram, Twitter, or visit their website. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.