The Atlantic was cold but the sun was shining and air temperatures were pleasant as a group of 15 solo swimmers and an 18-strong relay team set off from the north Connemara village of Cleggan yesterday morning on an eight-mile swimming challenge to Inishbofin.
The challenge, which was sent off by the Minister of State, Mr Robert Molloy, was part of a week of activities on Inishbofin to raise money for Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin. The skilled sea swimmers, several of whom have successfully crossed the English Channel, were joined by islanders and summer visitors for the final leg of the journey into Inishbofin harbour.
First home was Dubliner Colm O'Neill, a member of the Phoenix Swimming Club, who completed the crossing in three hours. It was his first attempt at swimming such a distance, but led by several boats and a canoeist he emerged from the sea at Inishbofin looking like he had just completed a couple of lengths in a pool.
"The farthest I'd ever have swum before now was a mileand-a-half," he said. "I thought the sea was fine and it was warm, although there were a couple of patches where it was chilly."
His fellow club member, 15-year-old Paul Conlon, who abandoned the swim because of the cold after leaving Cleggan Head, was brought to Inishbofin by speedboat ahead of the rest of the group. Paul, who had attempted to swim the full distance, was philosophical. "We've been training in the sea for the past three months, but before that it was in the pool. I'm pleased because I wanted to see how well I could do," he said.
The naval vessel Ciara was anchored in Inishbofin harbour for the event while from midday the island pier was thronged with locals and visitors.
Children participated in their own half-kilometre challenge swim around the pier, also part of the fund-raiser, supervised by their swimming teacher, Ann McCabe.
Her 14-strong team of adult pupils, meanwhile, were preparing to travel out to meet the experienced sea swimmers and accompany them on the final leg of the journey.
The 200-strong community at Inishbofin recently lost its resident priest as well as its full-time nurse, but both were present at yesterday's swim, which was an occasion of celebration for the island.
The various fund-raising challenges will continue until Thursday when the former world athletics champion, Eamon Coghlan, will visit the island to take part in a half-marathon.