After breakfast you have some free time for sightseeing before making your way to the swim start. You might like to visit the Guinness Storehouse or the National Gallery of Ireland to view Jack B. Yeats’ The Liffey Swim painting.

Listen out for your pre-allocated start time, then hop in the river and enjoy your swim! Don’t forget to admire Dublin’s history and culture as you make your way under the swim’s 12 bridges as the crowds cheer you on your way.

After the race you may choose to join fellow swimmers to celebrate your swim achievement with a pint of Guinness. An awards presentation in the evening will conclude a great Irish day.

You have a relaxing morning to recover from the previous day’s exertions. Depending on your flight time you can take part in an additional optional Leinster Open Sea swim race in Dublin today. Leinster Open Sea and its swimming clubs offer a series of swims and you can enjoy a further opportunity to race your new Irish friends before your departure. Race registration and payment take place on the day for this optional swim.

Essential Equipment Checklist

In addition to normal daily clothes, you will need to bring the following:

• Swimming Costume
• Swimming Goggles (x 2)*
• Swim Earplugs (if you use them)
• Towel
• Spare Warm Towel (which you can leave behind)
• Warm clothes for after the swim
• Sun Hat and Sunglasses
• Waterproof Sun Cream

*Try to bring one clear lens and one tinted lens for different light conditions.

Please note that ‘Leinster Open Sea’ committee will supply swim hats to wear during the race. Wetsuits are not permitted.

Who is this trip for?

This event is suitable for both competitive and non-competitive swimmers, but it is not for the faint-hearted! You will be swimming into a gentle current as the tide flows into the river during the swim. As a non-wetsuit event you must be acclimatised for chilly Irish summer waters.

The race is a handicapped event with men and women in separate races. Slower swimmers start first followed by faster competitors meaning that you will always have swimmers nearby. Swimmers are seeded so everyone has an equal chance to reach the finish line first. International competitors race with the Irish swimmers, although they will be in a separate category competing to be the first overseas swimmer home.

Compulsory Event Paperwork

There is no time limit for the race but you will need to complete the Leinster Open Sea registration form to prove your competency. The form requires your pool swim times and evidence that you are competent in non-wetsuit swims of approximately 3km. Completion of a BLDSA event or other non-wetsuit open water events in water of similar temperatures (9˚ to 16˚ C) (From 1st June 2015 are suitable).

Race registration forms are available on the SwimTrek website here. You must email the form to SwimTrek info@swimtrek.com within 48 hours of booking your package. You will be contacted within 12 days to confirm your entry to the event. You should wait for this confirmation before booking your travel to Dublin.

Swimming Distance

Temperatures

*Please note that these temperatures are indicative only and can change.

Race Organisers

Please be aware that whilst SwimTrek organises the package, ‘Leinster Open Sea’ event staff are the organisers of the swim and are fully responsible for race safety, logistics and contingency planning. Leinster Open Sea will allocate places to overseas swimmers based on their assessment of their ability to complete the swim.

Weather Caveat

For safety reasons, we rely on decent weather and water conditions for the swim.

Flights to Dublin are widely available from various British and European cities. A small selection of the airlines which fly are included below, however we recommend Dublin Airport to see all of the airport’s airlines and destinations.

From Dublin airport, the 747 bus leaves every 15 mins and costs €6. The Clayton Hotel Cardiff Lane is directly across the River Liffey from the second stop, the Convention Centre. From the bus stop, cross the river using the Samuel Beckett Bridge just 50 metres away. Walk a further 50 metres with the river on your left hand side and turn right up Cardiff Lane. The hotel is on your right-hand side.

Taxis are also available from outside the airport for the 20-minute journey to city centre, apx €25.

Accommodation

We are based at the 4 star Clayton Hotel Cardiff Lane for the duration of the trip. It’s a great hotel located just 50 metres from the bank of the River Liffey, right by the finish point of the swim race and in the centre of Dublin. It’s a short walk to the award presentation on the evening of the race. The hotel has White Flag awarded leisure centre with a 22-metre heated indoor pool.

All rooms are based on twin-share and all have en-suite facilities. There are limited Single Supplements available for this trip.

Meals

All breakfasts are included, however lunches and dinners are not. This gives you the opportunity to choose where, when and with whom you would like to dine. You can join a welcome social dinner with SwimTrekkers and local swimmers the evening before the race, payable locally. There will be an award ceremony in the evening after the race.

Supporters Package

The Liffey Swim is an perfect race for supporters with a great atmosphere and viewpoints along the entire length of the course. The luxury hotel is ideal for supporters and with its city centre location it is a perfect base for Dublin’s sights and shops.

There are a limited number of supporters tickets available which include shared accommodation with a race participant, as well as entry to all non-swimming events.

Extra Expenses

Membership with Swim Ireland is compulsory for the event. It is included in your package.

You should bring extra money with you to cover such items as lunch and dinner, souvenirs, post-race drinks, entry fee for optional Day 3 race, etc.

Passports and Visas

If you are travelling from outside Ireland, you will require a full passport to enter, and it should be valid for six months beyond the expected length of stay. Citizens of the EU and holders of Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, South African and US passports do not need a visa to enter Ireland. Visa regulations do change, so please recheck this before you travel.

Vaccinations

There are currently no essential vaccinations required for Ireland, but it is advisable to check this eight weeks before you travel. You should also ensure that your tetanus and polio immunity is up-to-date..