For over 30 years, swimmers and dippers have made it their Christmas tradition to wear the COPE Galway t-shirt and “brave the cold” in the bracing Galway waters to raise awareness and funds for the local charity. People can also register on copegalway.ie/swim to “swim where you are” anywhere in the world from 20-26 December.
Sponsors, Stewart Construction have strong local connections with Galway Bay. While the company has completed many notable projects over the years, it is fitting that four generations ago, James Stewart and Co built the iconic Blackrock Diving Tower in 1954, the home of the COPE Galway Christmas Swim.
The new tower replaced an old, dilapidated diving tower. There are stories of how workers occasionally lost hammers and chisels in the water and a local champion swimmer was employed to dive in and retrieve them. The connection to Blackrock remains strong as, for the past two years, Stewart Construction have sponsored the COPE Galway Christmas Swim, and staff have taken part in this community event over the years.
The COPE Galway Christmas Swim raises essential funds that have a direct and positive impact on the lives of vulnerable families and individuals in Galway. Last year, COPE Galway supported 2,885 people in Galway city and county across their homeless, domestic abuse and senior support services.
You can register online for the COPE Galway Christmas Swim to “swim where you are” any time between20-26 December or to attend a “wave” at the Blackrock event on Christmas Day between 9am and 1pm.?
To register and for further information and safety tips please visit copegalway.ie/swim or phone 091 77 87 50
