Christmas Day dip to mark 50 chilly years!

Temperatures may be low but hopes remain high for record crowds at this year’s annual Broadstrand Christmas Day charity swim at Courtmacsherry.

As the famous swim marks 50 years of icy dips this year, organisers are hoping the event will attract a huge turnout to help the paediatric cystic fibrosis (CF) unit at CUH and Horizons Cork (Cope Foundation), which supports adults and children with intellectual disabilities.

In the swim’s 49 years of existence, it has so far raised an estimated €50,000. Organisers are hoping this year’s swim will break the €4,000 barrier to be split evenly between the two causes.

The Christmas Day swim kicks off at noon with a claxon signalling the rush to the chilly waters along the breathtaking Wild Atlantic Way, but for Courtmacsherry and wider community, it is much more than a festive dip.

“We’ve been able to see the advances in the CF ward at CUH and how it has progressed,” said Stephen Finn, a committee member of the Courtmacsherry Development Association.

“We can see first-hand exactly where the monies are channelled and the benefits to people in the locality and well beyond,” he added.

Local man Tom O’Sullivan, 20, is a shining example of the advances in CF treatment pioneered at CUH. Diagnosed as a child, he is now thriving thanks to the dedicated care he received at the Wilton campus.

The fundraising swim, whether performed in wetsuits, bikinis, shorts, or fancy dress, can be undertaken by individuals or groups at any point over the festive period and donations can be made through the GoFundMe page at gofundme.com/f/broadstrand-swim or directly to the Courtmacsherry Development Association.

For those braving the elements on Christmas Day, or those warmly wrapped up on shore, card machines will be available at Broadstrand and buckets will be on hand for cash donations.

This year’s event will also represent a special milestone for two of the original organisers, neighbours Vincent O’Donovan and Cally McCarthy, who will proudly take to the sea, continuing a tradition which has bonded the community together since 1975.

Stephen Finn said: “The focus is on people meeting and gathering on Christmas morning.

“It’s a real social occasion and we usually have 150 to 200 people turning up. The catering committee will provide tea, coffee, soup, and hot whiskeys. The official start is at 12 noon but if that's not suitable, people can swim and donate anytime over the festive period.”