By Eoin McGarvey & Charlie Boyle

SWIMMERS from various parts of Northern Ireland and Donegal took to the water at the Boatstrand near Carrickfin on Saturday as part of a Special EU Programmes Body and Donegal County Council cross border event.

Close on 70 people from several swim groups in Donegal and Northern Ireland joined together for an enjoyable day based between Mullaghduff Community Centre and the Boatstrand.

The event was a connecting of people through storytelling and open water swimming. Dippers from Dunmurry in Belfast, Tyrone and Fermanagh joined like-minded people from Donegal to enjoy a coming together through a shared interest in sea swimming.

The Tyrone Dippers had mechanical issues with their bus, but it couldn’t have happened in a better place as Frank from McGuinness buses in Glenties had them rescued in no time and brought them safely to the Rosses.

The day started off at Mullaghduff Community Centre where organisers Charlie Boyle and Sally Rodgers welcomed the crowd and where Sally outlined how she had overcome her fear of the water and is now a regular sea swimmer. Tea and scones were served and during the morning there were stories of how, when and why the groups started and the benefits the swimmers get from it.

Then it was on to the Boatstrand for a grounding session of beach yoga with Aileen Divers before getting into the Atlantic together and in great spirits.

Gartan Open Water swimmers joined Wild Water Witches from Fermanagh, Seacoast Dippers from Benone beach, Marble Hill dippers, along with many locals who frequent the waters at the Boatstrand on a regular basis. The Dunmurry Dippers from Belfast arrived early and made a full weekend of it in West Donegal.

The Boatstrand activities also included use of a wood fired sauna, kayaking, swimming or simply dipping. More stories were told as the participants enjoyed a lovely beach-side lunch.

Pearse McCann and Mark McCollum told stories of how their groups came together, while Trish Wylie shared of medical challenges she overcame through the immersion in open waters of Fermanagh.

Mary Logue and Sally Rodgers represented the local group sharing how over €45,000 has been raised for Donegal Cancer Flights and Services by the group locally, and the benefits of an activity that started four years ago.

Siobhan from Tyrone gave a great explanation of how the dippers there have grown in numbers.

Later in the evening the connecting continued at Casadh An tSúgáin in Loughanure where plans were discussed about more swim catch ups over the great food.

This PEACEPLUS initiative will continue with another big day in Northern Ireland in early 2026 promoting cross border and cross community connections focused on the Glenties Municipal District, friends in the North, and the promotion of storytelling in different ways including through the open water.