Art Of Swimming: Lynda Radley was inspired by a faded photo she found in a Cork library
Lynda Radley, Art of Swimming.
Although describing herself as "a terrible swimmer", Cork writer Lynda Radley became obsessed with celebrated endurance swimmer Mercedes Gleitze, the first British woman to swim the English Channel. On her eighth attempt in 1927, aged 26, Gleitze succeeded in this impressive feat in a time of 15 hours and 15 minutes.
Glasgow-based Radley, on finding a faded photograph of Gleitze in Cork City Library, went on to write The Art of Swimming, inviting audiences to imagine the world of Gleitze. The solo stage show, starring Radley, was first seen at the Cork Midsummer Festival 14 years ago. It is now returning to the festival in a newly-conceived film version for online presentation, directed by Tom Creed with music by Michael John McCarthy.
