Beachwear by nail artist who learned to swim from Youtube

Health, Beauty and Lifestyle with Denise McNamara

There never was a bigger baby than I when it comes to taking a dip. My earth-shattering squeals have long been a source of mortification for my family as I attempt to enter the sea, lake or swimming pool. I was relaying this to Louise Griffin as evidence that I will never need to buy any of her outdoor swimming range called Blackrock Beachwear.

“I grew up in the Claddagh and I never went swimming – ever! I didn’t know how to swim. I found the pool in Ocean Fitness too cold and that was heated. Even when my son started swimming lessons two years ago I found going into the pool with him pure torture,” she recalls.

“I didn’t have any want in me to swim. I just didn’t – there’s no point in me saying otherwise. I don’t know what happened me. It must be a midlife crisis.”

Because as it’s turned out, Louise is now the biggest advocate for sea swimming. Not only does she do it every day without fail since the lockdown last year, she has created a business out of it.

It all started on one of those glorious days last May when one of her friends who would go out swimming on and off asked her to join. She decided to tag along, with no plans to get wet.

“I decided to pack a bag but I didn’t commit. I started going in and sitting down in it. I went in as far as my knees and it felt good.”

She felt compelled to return the next day and repeated the feat. And something inside told her it was finally time to learn how to swim.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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