The spirit of cold water.
28th of December 2023. Less than 10 degrees, a man goes down the steps dug in the rocks to swim into Dublin bay at Sandycove.
Everybody has his own reason to do this, sport, challenge, ritual... Barbara, I met at Seapoint told me she started to swim in cold water during the confinement, it was almost the only way to endure this complex period.
After few second of reflection, the dive in the cold water.
Like a ritual that unites, the whole family goes into the water with the smile.
It's hard, no one is really ready to do this. Do not think, do not fight against the icy wind, just go...
Santa Gordon with a friend at Sandycove
1st of January 2024 - The crowd mixed with the regulars arrived for the ritual of the year.
Deirdre follows with difficulties Fiona her sister already in the water under the amused eyes of a young woman almost frozen in the mid-thigh.
Ted's family
For Roger, Roisin, Gordon, Shane, his father, Fiona and Deirdre the swimmer sisters, Liam and the others...
The cold water spirit, this is a personal challenge which can be done alone or for most of people shared with friends or family to get the strength to make it one time, or more.
You have to be mad somewhere to do this, and you can feel it around. The atmosphere is a mixte of concentration, hysteria (men included) and proud to have done it!
