Over 300 contestants set for Liffey Swim

More than 300 people will take part in the 84th Liffey Swim next Saturday.

More than 300 people will take part in the 84th Liffey Swim next Saturday.

The one-and-a-half mile swim begins at 3.30 p.m. at Watling Street Bridge and finishes at Custom House Quay in the city centre.

Dublin City Council is sponsoring this year's event which is organised and managed by Swim Ireland and about 70 of their volunteers.

Contestants this year include masters world record holder Claire O'Dwyer and Channel swimmers Anne McAdam, Shay Dillon and Owen Gaffney.

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The youngest competitor is 13-year old Niamh Dunne and the oldest is 71-year old Jackie Kearney.

The Liffey Swim is a unique event in a European Capital and the penultimate event in a season of 26 open water races held during the summer months.

Entrants must complete five races of the season to qualify, be a member of a swimming club and be able to swim a mile.

The first Liffey Swim race took place on the 22nd July, 1920 with 27 male contestants. The first ladies race was introduced in 1991.

One of the earliest Liffey Swims was immortalised in the Jack B. Yeats 1923 painting The Liffey Swim, which was to win him a silver medal at the 1924 Paris Olympics competition for artistic endeavour.

The Liffey is also playing host to the Liffey Descent canoeing race on Saturday. Up to 1500 people will take place in the competition which kicks off at 12pm in Straffan Co. Kildare and finishes at Islandbridge.