Swimmer to go the extra length for charity

DINGLE woman Nuala Moore is among six people who have started training for an 800-mile round-Ireland swim in the summer of next year.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), which runs Ireland’s lifeboat rescue service, is expected to benefit to the tune of €100,000 from the sponsored swim.

Nobody is believed to have achieved the feat, and three swimmers from Donegal and one each from Munster, Leinster and Connacht will attempt it, with Nuala the Munster standard-bearer.

The swim is due to start in Donegal next July and will take up to seven weeks to go around the coast in a clockwise direction.

A safety boat and an onshore support team will be with the swimmers, who will swim in relays for around 12 hours each day.

Each swimmer will spend about an hour in the water before being relieved by another.

A 15-month training schedule is about to start, which will involve huge commitment from each team member.

“The mental attitude of the team is very strong,” Nuala said.

“With the right spirit and training, everyone will be focused on the goal of completing the circumnavigation of the country,” she added.

The effort is expected to attract a large amount of corporate sponsorship.