In Pictures: Thousands take to sea for Christmas Day swims 

Mark, Sophie, Richard and Ruth Sullivan at the Christmas swim at Myrtleville, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

Thousands of plucky swimmers started their Christmas Day off with a dip in the sea this morning.

In Cork, where sea temperatures were around 10C to 11C, hundreds of swimmers flocked to Myrtleville beach for the annual Christmas swim.

Anna and Terri O'Keefe, Claire Coffey and Chaoimh O'Keeffe enjoying their Christmas swim at Myrtleville, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

High waves on the beach for the Christmas swim at Myrtleville, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

In Fountainstown, hundreds took to the sea at around 10am on Christmas Day. 

Catherine Linehan, Bernard and Phil Geoghegan with Katie and Claire Stewart at the Christmas Day swim in Fountainstown, Co. Cork. - Picture: David Creedon

Kellyann, Suzanne and Derek O'Flynn from the Cork City Missing Persons Search & Recovery at the Christmas Day swim in Fountainstown, Co. Cork. - Picture: David Creedon

In Courtmacsherry, the Golden Jubilee Swim saw scores of people jump into the sea as part of a fundraiser for the Paediatric Cystic Fibrosis Unit at Cork University Hospital and Horizons Cork, which supports children and adults with intellectual disabilities. 

 Timoleague's Sean Connolly at the Golden Jubilee Christmas Day Swim at Broadstrand, Courtmacsherry, West Cork. Picture: Martin Walsh.

Martina Hooley, Jo Brelin, Linda Donoghue, Tara Buckley and Za McCarthy from Youghal enjoying their annual Christmas Day Swim in Youghal. Picture: Howard Crowdy

Making a splash at the annual Christmas Day Swim in Youghal. Picture: Howard Crowdy

At Banna Beach, Co Kerry, 400 swimmers took part in the annual swim. The traditional "back to boathouse" event included refreshments and music, with the swim starting at 12.30pm. A collection was also held, which will go to the Banna Sea Rescue Unit. 

Picture: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD .

In Fenit, Co Kerry, Mary Christy from Tralee did her 50th Christmas Day swim among others. All money raised from the festive dip will be donated to Fenit RNLI. 

Mary Christy from Tralee, Co. Kerry at Fenit.  Picture: Domnick Walsh 

In Dublin, hundreds turned up at Sandycove Beach to take a dip in the annual Christmas swim. 

(LtoR) Caroline, Ross, Nicole, Kayla and Theo from Dublin/Bondi Sydney,join hundreds of people taking a dip at Sandycove beach in the annual Christmas Day swim. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photos