More than 100 people will take to the ever-improving waters of the River Lee this weekend, in the first Lee swim to be held in the city centre in more than 50 years.
Endorsed by Cork 2005, the Lee swim has already attracted swimmers from Australia, the US and Italy, with 72 men and 32 women signing up for the 2,000m swim down the north channel and back up part of the south channel.
Joe Donnelly of the Cork Masters Swimming Club said: "It's the first time the swim has been done in the city centre since the late 1940s ."
Cork's drainage scheme has improved the water quality, while the ESB is releasing water from Inniscarra Dam to further enhance the river.