About loneswimmer

Donal & Dee in Varne Ridge under the Irish, UK & Aussie flags of the three successful Soloists on that tide

I’m an Open Water swimmer living in the South-East of Ireland. I’ve been swimming Open Water for some years, mainly on the South-East & South coasts. I’ve completed an English Channel Solo, described by King of the English Channel Kevin Murphy as “the scariest I’ve ever been involved in“, and I’ve been part of a 5-person National record setting Double English Channel Relay.

Amongst my other swims are Clew Bay, Blackrock to Cobh, 8 hours around Sandycove Island, 6 hours around Sandycove Island in under 12 degrees Celsius, both Beginish Island routes, Guillamene to Brownstown Head and back unsupported, Irish Champion of Champions, Sandycove to Speckled Door and back, Roches Head to Power Head and back, and the first person to swim the length of Ireland’s Copper Coast in a series of solo unsupported swims.

The loneswimmer title arose because, contrary to Rule Number One, most of my swimming is by myself. Therefore I consider safety in everything I do.

I would never complete any swims without the help and assistance of family and friends to whom I owe so much, particularly my fiancée Dee, my friend Clare Morrissey who started this lark, all the Sandycove Swimmers from whom I learned so much, and especially the rest of The Magnificent Seven of 2010.

Almost everything about Open Water that I know, I’ve learned the hard way, by doing it.

I don’t like hoarded knowledge. I like to share what I’ve learned. Mostly therefore, I’ll write about what I know and have experienced.

Your mileage may vary. You may have conflicting opinions.

With open-water swimming, it’s all about the mind.

All original writing on this website; Copyright Donal Buckley, 2009 to 2099

I’m an Open Water swimmer living in the South-East of Ireland. I’ve been swimming Open Water for 4 years, mainly on the South-East & South coasts. I’ve completed an English Channel Double Relay, as part of a 5-person team, where we set a National record. I don’t have lifetime of pool swimming behind me and almost everything about Open Water that I know, I’ve learned the hard way. When I started I found it hard to gather useful information, and I always remember that. Mostly therefore, I’ll write about what I know and have experienced, rather than what others say. Your mileage may vary. You may have conflicting opinions. I’m heading back to the English Channel this year for a solo attempt. This blog is intended to help raise money for charity. Remember, for open-water, it’s all about the mind, not the speed.

The Sandycove Swimmers Annual Achievement List released – a must-read (loneswimmer.com)
Chosen as one of the 2012 Global Male Movers and Shakers in open water swimming

13 thoughts on “About loneswimmer”

Hi Donal
good luck and dont get eaten ba a shark

Reply ↓

loneswimmer on August 12, 2010 at 12:12 pm said:

Thanks Michael. Hope you followed the updates. I made it but it was …tough. Still recovering but prognosis is good. Weird but good feeling to be a Channel Swimmer.

Reply ↓

go on cousin !!! will you have time for some garlic bread,glass of wine and a few snails when you get there ?!!

Reply ↓

loneswimmer on August 12, 2010 at 12:11 pm said:

Thanks John. No rest I’m afraid. I had an hour swim afterwards to get back to the boat. Pretty physically damaged from the boat collisions. prognosis from the physio last night is good though. Should be recovered in a few weeks.

Reply ↓

Donal,
Congratulations on completing your solo crossing an amazing acomplishment by anyones standards, thanks for all your tips coaching and encouragement over the last few years that has made me a far better swimmer.
Live the dream!!
Eoin

Reply ↓

loneswimmer on September 6, 2010 at 7:43 pm said:

Thanks very much Eoin. (I’m still catching up on various correspondence.) Glad you’ve gotten something useful from it all.

Cheers…

Reply ↓

Hey I love all the quotes on the site! Very inspiring!

Some people think they need a god to get them through when all others need is a few quotes!

Reply ↓

Hey Donal,

Love the website. I’ve only came across it in the last few months but now pop in regularly for a read, keep up the inspiring writings!

As you can probably guess I’am a open water swimmer like yourself and I would really appreciate your opinion on a question I have.

Previously I would have only been a occasional bather, however since last August my career situation has changed, such that I now swim daily at Salthill Galway.
I wouldn’t class myself as a great swimmer with regards distance.
Basically I swim daily for all the many other joy’s of open water swimming that I’am sure you are aware of.

Any how, whenever there is any bit of chop at Salthill, I find catching breaths of air when swimming much more difficult than on clam flat water days, I seem to end up swallowing many litres of salt brine!.

Aside from getting stroke correction lessons, which I plan to in the future.
Could you give me your opinion on swimming with a snorkel and mask.
Any advice on what I should look for in the line this type of swimming aid?

The cold temperature of the open water, is something that I have found myself fairly well able to cope with. (For your interest: I sometimes take temperature readings the lowest reading I have got so far were 2.5 Degrees Celsius on 24th and25th of December.) However the rougher sea states, greatly reduce my distance swam and enjoyment. Salthill isn’t a particularly challenging place to swim regards currents and such. I am quite a physically fit guy, and know the range of my swimming ability but the whole mouthful’s of sea water is limiting the conditions I can enjoy swimming in.

So I’d really appreciate your opinion on going the snorkel route.

Kind regards,
Kev Costello.

Reply ↓

Hey there Donal,

Great site, would you be interested in reviewing some products for our swim store for free? E-mail me if you’re interested, we’re keen to start promoting our site through avid enthusiasts such as yourself and others, feel it gives us an edge. If this is of no interest to you, then not to worry.

Thankyou

Reply ↓

I look forward to coming back and reading more of your blog. I’m squeamish about swimming in the sea alone. Today I had a good swim because it was calm and lots of people on the beach. If I’m alone, I never go more than about 25 metres from shore, and swim horizontal to land. Am I a wimp, or just cautious? Wish I had someone who liked to paddle to go with me.

Reply ↓

Parallel even…of course I’m horizontal. Ha ha ha. Vertical swimming, oh yeah. Well, I have done deep water running, that’s pretty vertical.

Reply ↓