Limerick Narwhals: Island Swim

Timeline:

• Registration 10:00 to 14:30 Hunt Museum
• Safety Brief 16:30 Hunt Museum
• Line up 16:50 Slipway
• Race start 17:00 First wave
• Last wave 17:10 Last Wave
• Finish 19:10 Finish
• Exit 20:30 Clean up
• After party 21:00 to late

This year’s Island swim has a limited number of swimmers due to ongoing construction works along the river.  Please note that there are No transfers of entries permitted so please keep this in mind, also, your wave start cannot be changed once the chips have been ordered. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused but swimmers safety is a priority.

After you register in the morning, we recommend taking a trip around the Milk Market or many other sightseeing areas in the city also please be aware that Limerick will be hosting an emergency services parade from 12:00 to 14:00 in the area so be prepared for heavy traffic. you might have to park some distance away so please arrive early. 

Registration

Registration is located at the green behind the Hunt Museum, Fig 4, opens at 10.00AM and closes at 14.00pm. Please register on time, once registration is closed you will not be allowed to swim.

At registration, you will be given a bag tag, a swim hat and a timing chip. (If Ordered, Your after-party ticket.)

You must register in person; we can only give out timing chips to registered swimmers. Please attach the bag tag to your gear bag and proceed to the bag drop / changing area, Fig 6

Please put your timing chip on your wrist, not your ankles. Timing chips will be collected at the finish line.

The swim hat provided must be always worn during the swim. If you do not have a hat, you will not be allowed to enter, so please remember, as there are no spares at the start point.

The Swim: 

Once you have registered, you will get your Number and wave start, A = go, B = 1 min, C = 2 min etc. etc. There will be changing tents at the back of the Hunt Museum, Fig 6, as well as the bag drop, please ensure you attach your tag on your bag!

You must attend the Safety Briefing, which is due to start at 16.30pm. Please listen carefully to the instructions from the Safety crew and race director

After the safety briefing, you may proceed to the staging Areas. Please go to your Wave Letter group “A”, “B”, etc will be at alternative sides of the entry gate. Marshals will help you to find your wave position. When the race is about to start, the gate will open and “A” will move to the pontoon, B will move to the slip and each group behind will move up one spot. When “A” enters the water “B” will move to the Pontoon and “C” to the Slip, we will repeat this until all swimmers are in the water. Please do this quickly as any delay will have a knock-on effect.

There will be bins for your shoes/flip-flops. Please drop your footwear into these and they will be moved to the finish line.

The Swim route

When you hear the whistle, the race begins. You will immediately pass under a pedestrian bridge (Sylvester O Halloran bridge, Fig 1, then under Matthew Bridge, before passing Barrington’s Hospital. Keep out from the left bank to avoid the pontoon there. Then you will pass under Baal’s Bridge and follow the river to the left, as you turn left you will be in the area known as Sir Harry’s Mall, where you will meet some works on the river. We recommend staying in the Middle, the tide will assist you. You will then pass under O’Dywer Bridge, and pass Athlunkard Boat club on your left, (ABC have helped this swim from the very first swim.) Now you are swimming up the abbey for approx. 1 km. Then at the top of the river, about ½ way through the race, you will keep to the left. There will be kayaks to guide you and you may start to feel the effect of the tide against you. The faster you are the harder it will feel as you will be heading into the tide. If you do not get to this point before the turn of tide, you will need assistance. Our boat cover will help you. Once around the top of the Island, you are now in the main River Shannon. From here you will see Thomond Park on your right-hand side and then you swim through the old salmon weir, with King John’s Castle on your left-hand side and Thomond Bridge, and Limerick in front of you. (but not the Finish) Passing under Thomond Bridge you will see Limerick Court house and the Finish line on your left.

At the end of the swim: on approach to the end of the swim you will swim under the finish ARCH, Fig 2, and tip the board with the hand your timing chip is fastened to. Congratulations your swim is now finished, however please stay focused swim directly to the swim exit!

Swim Exit

After passing under the finish arch continue down the river to the exit point, Fig 3, (do not go to the slip at Curragower Boat Club). There will be a floating deck for you to climb up PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME. Once out of the water you will have a small walk back to your clothes, please follow instructions from the marshals.