Charity swim in memory of Athlone's Jim O'Connor raises €50,000 for Pieta

The Jim O'Connor Memorial Castle to Castle Swim, which took place on Saturday last, August 24, is on course to raise €50,000 for Pieta.

The event remembers the late Jim O'Connor, the only person to swim the length of Lough Ree without a wetsuit, a feat he completed in 2012.

Conditions on Saturday were “challenging” for swimmers and, after a number of days of strong winds earlier in the week, a safety check was carried out on Saturday morning to ensure the event could proceed.

As it transpired, all 17 solo swimmers, and 60 relay participants, completed the course, which spanned some 13.5 kilometres from Rindoon Castle to Athlone Castle.

First home was former UK international swimmer and now Athlone resident Andy Bushell, who was followed in by Athlone resident Sinead Bane, the first woman home.

The first relay team in was the two-member group of Robbie Powell and Ethan Keogh.

Committee member Charlie Naughton said there was “a great crowd, great reaction and great atmosphere” close to the finish line beneath Athlone Castle throughout the afternoon.

He said the committee was “absolutely thrilled” to have raised just under €50,000, as of Monday morning. “And it's quite likely over the next few days that it will grow a little more,” he said.

Mr Naughton paid tribute to all who took part, supported, and helped with the event.

The committee is particularly grateful to Athlone Sub Aqua Club, Inny Kayak Club, Lough Ree Yacht Club, Waterways Ireland, Baysports, Order of Malta and Blair Chatterton of Portaneena Marina, who provided invaluable support on the day.

The committee has previously said it hoped the swim could become an annual event, something which Charlie Naughton echoed this week.

“We would love if it was to become an annual event and to continue to grow each year,” he said.

This would require the ongoing assistance of many local volunteers and organisations, and the committee would need to consult with these supporters.

* For more photos from the event, see this week's Westmeath Independent