Swim Ireland
Open Water Swim Series

Pre online registration for races will be in operation throughout the season. It is therefore important you register online as most races will not accept on the day entries.

More information will be found on the event sign up page from the 1st of March.

In Swim Ireland organised events swimmers will be provided with a swim hat at registration, these hats must be worn for that event.

In club run events swimmers must wear a bright fluorescent colour hat so they are visible in the water. Colours such as pink, yellow, green and orange are mandatory.

Wetsuits can be worn in events on the calendar and must be declared on entry. Swimmers wearing wetsuits will compete for prizes in the wetsuit category or as outlined in the specific event conditions.

Across the calendar there are two different types of races that will be hosted, these are:

Mass start / Race Events

In mass start / race events all swimmers start at the same time, depending on numbers at the event the start may take place in waves of swimmers.

Handicapped Races

In Handicap races, the swimmers are “equalised” by commencing their start at different time intervals after the race officially starts. Each swimmer is allocated a handicap time based on their previous race results and submitted times. A 1500 metre time must be submitted on entry.

Ie. – Swimmer A is handicapped 3 minutes, this means they start 3 minutes after the official start of the race.

Swim Fest Events – These events are run by Swim Ireland and cater for experienced open water swimmers who want to race for prizes, as well as non-competitive/participation swimmers who want to gain experience of swimming a distance and in an open water event. Event distances will be 750m, 1500m and 3km

Membership Required – Club Competitive, Full Special Membership and One-Day Special

Swim Series Events – These events are targeted at experienced open water swimmers as well as non-competitive/participation swimmers who want to gain experience of swimming a distance and in an open water event. Event distances will range between 500m and 1500m.

Membership Required – Club Competitive, Full Special Membership and One-Day Special

Race Series/Events – These events are targeted at experienced open water swimmers. Event distances will be 1500m.

Membership Required – Club Competitive, Full Special Membership

Big Bay Swims – These events are run by Swim Ulster and cater for experienced open water swimmers who want to race for prizes, as well as non-competitive/participation swimmers who want to gain experience of swimming a distance and in an open water event. Event distances will be 750m, 1500m and 3km

Membership Required – Contact event organiser

Club Run Events – These events are targeted at experienced open water swimmers. Event distances will range between 1500m – 2km.

Membership Required – Club Competitive, Full Special Membership

More information on each event including race distances will be available on the events booking page.

Each event will cater for various prize categories, but in general will be one of the following:

Top 3 Finishers for each event

• Female Skins (1st, 2nd and 3rd)
• Male Skins (1st, 2nd and 3rd)
• Female Wetsuit (1st, 2nd and 3rd)
• Male Wetsuit (1st, 2nd and 3rd)

There will be more prizes presented on the day which will include, age categories, team prizes and fastest swimmers. More information will be provided on events booking page or through the event organiser.

A typical open water course will consist of a loop style course in which you will swim around a rectangular course of inflatable buoys placed on the water.

There are some events on the calendar which are point to point, whereby you start at one location and finish at another.

These races are targeted at experienced open water swimmers.

To qualify for these events, you will need to submit swim entry times, as well as swim in the following number of races across the Swim Ireland open water calendar:

• Dún Laoghaire Harbour Swim – 3 qualifying swims
• Dublin City Liffey Swim – 4 qualifying swims
• National Championships – Qualifying conditions will apply and will be outlined in the event conditions

Only 2 swims from the Malahide swim series can be used as qualification swims.

Membership Types:

• Swim Ireland club competitive membership
• Swim Ireland full special membership (This includes joint Triathlon Swim Plus Membership)

Events will range from €15 – €50, depending on distances and type of event.