The Christmas Day Swim Tradition

Anyone living on the coast of Ireland will be aware of the traditional Christmas Day Swim, where people gather on Christmas morning and go for a swim.  Over the years various members of my extended family would take themselves off over to the Guillamene on Christmas morning, returning back to my parents’ house for a festive drink, buzzed up on the cold and the endorphins.  I’ve never done a Christmas day swim, my response to being asked to join in included polite and impolite variations of ‘not on your nelly!’  For me, swimming in the sea was strictly a May to September activity.

Last year my mum went for her first Christmas Day swim, down on the Lady Slip with the group of new friends she had met on her daily swims during the Covid lockdown.  Seeing her enthusiasm and zest for life after coming back from the swim gave me pause.  Made me think, ‘hmmm, there might be something to this lunacy.’

Fast forward to the following March, I found myself in the freezing waters of Tramore Bay…and I was hooked.  Cold Water swimming is one of the best natural highs you can get.

So now  the Christmas season is upon us again, I’ve got my dryrobe and my Santa hat ready  to go, and I’m looking forward to my first ever Christmas Day Swim.  I’ve also got one of my new Christmas Day Swim Mugs on standby for a hot coffee, with a little something added, for after.

Will you be joining in this year?