August 28, 2018
The Lord Mayor Nial Ring will start the Jones Engineering 99th Dublin City Liffey Swim on Saturday, 1st September 2018, at Rory O’More Bridge. The men’s race will begin at 3.00pm and the women’s is at 4.30pm. Over 500 swimmers are expected to take part in this year’s race.
The Liffey Swim always brings ripples of excitement to the many swimmers taking part in this historic event every year. Participants from North, South, East and West Dublin mingle together with swimmers from all over Ireland and beyond. Teenagers pit their strengths against 70 year old veterans; fathers compete against their sons and mothers against their daughters with every competitor having a chance to win due to a special handicap* system.
“I encourage Dubliners to come along and cheer on the participants on Saturday in Dublin’s oldest and Ireland’s most prestigious open sea races. This much loved event is a great way of showcasing the River Liffey as an amenity” said Lord Mayor Nial Ring. “I commend Leinster Open Sea, Jones Engineering and Dublin City Council for organising and supporting this great event”.
Jim Curley, Managing Director of Jones Engineering Group said “The Jones Engineering Dublin City Liffey Swim is a unique event in our capital city and we believe throughout Europe. There is no other event like it for colour, excitement and spectacle. It has a special place in the hearts of Dubliners and our own company has a strong connection to the race – our Chairman Eric Kinsella swam the race so we are delighted to sponsor the Jones Engineering Dublin City Liffey Swim. We are very excited to work with Dublin City Council and Leinster Open Sea as we begin planning for the 100th anniversary of the race in 2019.”
Sarah Keane CEO of Swim Ireland and President of the Olympic Council of Ireland said
“While for many this time of the year signals the end of the Summer season, for our Swim Ireland Open Sea Swimmers this is always an exciting time as we welcome the arrival of the Jones Engineering Dublin City Liffey Swim. The Liffey Swim is currently in its 99th year and there will be more people participating in the race this year than ever before. The growth of open water swimming generally across the country continues at a rate and this year has also seen more children involved in sea swimming races. I’m looking forward to competing in the race myself again this year with men and women, old and young of all shapes and sizes all swimming through the centre of our capital city and getting to experience it in a totally different way which is unforgettable.
The Swim starts at Rory O’Moore Bridge beside Guinness Brewery. There is an opportunity for the spectators looking down from the quays and the bridge to clap and cheer on swimmers as they start their journey down the Liffey. The Swimmers then swim down the 2.2 Kilometre course past Collins Barracks, The Four Courts, Dublin City Councils’ Civic Offices, Liberty Hall and swimming under the following bridges - Rory O’Moore Bridge, James Joyce Bridge, Liam Mellows Bridge, Father Mathew Bridge, O’Donovan Rossa Bridge, Grattan Bridge, Millennium Bridge, Ha’penny Bridge, O’Connell Bridge, Rosie Hackett Bridge, Butt Bridge and the Loopline Bridge. The race finishes at the quay wall just in front of the Customs House. The race heat up in the area between “Grattan Bridge” Capel Street bridge and O’Connell bridge as the back markers (fast swimmers) start catching up on the middle markers and the go swimmers.
Safety cover at the race is provided by Dublin Civil Defence while Dublin Fire Brigade provide their now famous “Liffey Al Fresco showers” for swimmers when they leave the river at the Custom House.
Presentation of the prestigious Liffey Cups will take place in the grounds of the Custom House after the last race finishes at approximately 5pm. The Dublin City Liffey Swim is organised by Leinster Open Sea, a not for profit voluntary organisation, and sponsored by Jones Engineering and Dublin City Council. The race is also supported by Swim Ireland.
Leinster Open Sea are delighted to welcome over 21 competitors who have travelled from the USA, Canada, South Africa and the United Kingdom to compete in the Visitors’ race. Among them are party of five swimmers coming from Washington State and one swimmer travelling all the way from British Columbia in Canada.
Jones Engineering 99th Dublin City Liffey Swim
- Saturday 1st September 2018
- Race Distance 2,200 metres
- Entries are now closed
- Over 500 swimmers from Ireland, US, UK and Canada
- Men’s race 3.00pm
- Ladies’ Race 4.00pm
- Presentation of Winners’ Cup at 5.30pm Custom House Quay
