Swim Ireland
Encyclopedia
Swim Ireland is the national governing body of swimming
and associated aquatic disciplines in Ireland
, including Northern Ireland
. It is affiliated with both LEN
and FINA
.
(IASA). IASA was dissolved following revelations that a number of its senior members had sexually abused a number of swimmers, who were entitled to no compensation due to the dissolution of IASA. In February 2008 it was announced that following a 10 year legal 13 victims of a former coach received six figure compensation settlements from a Dublin school (who were the only party remaining to provide compensation) where that coach had been employed.
Swim Ireland works with the different regions in organising competitions such as provincial Age Group Championships as well as other graded, distance and inter-club meets. They also work with the Irish Schools Swimming Association who run the Irish Minor and Secondary Schools Championships.
The Age Group InterProvincial takes place every year at the beginning of the summer months for swimmers up to the age of 16 years. This is where teams from the 4 provinces of Ireland (Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht) compete against each other.
These competitions take place in either the National Aquatic Centre
, Dublin or at University Arena, Limerick. Both pools have the compatibility to be changed into 50m and 25m.
In 2003, Swim Ireland hosted the European Short Course Championships at the National Aquatic Centre
in Dublin. The event was a resounding success with a world record being broken by the Dutch in the final race, the men's 4x50m Freestyle relay.
Swim Ireland also organise The Liffey Swim
which takes place in August to September annually.
Many fellow swimmers and coaches believe that money has been wasted (on trips to South Africa, Argentina etc.) as Swim Ireland is already under-funded.
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
and associated aquatic disciplines in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, including Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It is affiliated with both LEN
Ligue Européenne de Natation
Ligue Européenne de Natation or LEN is the European governing body for aquatic sports affiliated to FINA—it is the Continental Association for Europe. It was founded in 1927 in Bologna, Italy....
and FINA
International Swimming Federation
Fédération Internationale de Natation is the International Federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee for administering international competition in the aquatic sports...
.
History
Swim Ireland was founded in 1998 to replace the Irish Amateur Swimming AssociationIrish Amateur Swimming Association
The Irish Amateur Swimming Association , was the former national governing body of swimming in Ireland. IASA was dissolved following revelations that a number of its senior member has raped and sexually abused underage swimmers...
(IASA). IASA was dissolved following revelations that a number of its senior members had sexually abused a number of swimmers, who were entitled to no compensation due to the dissolution of IASA. In February 2008 it was announced that following a 10 year legal 13 victims of a former coach received six figure compensation settlements from a Dublin school (who were the only party remaining to provide compensation) where that coach had been employed.
Competitions
Swim Ireland runs national meets which include:- Dave McCullagh Memorial (March/April)
- Irish LC Championships (April/May)
- Irish Age Groups Division 2 (June)
- Irish Age Group/Youth Championships (July)
- Irish Open SC ChampionshipsIrish Open SC ChampionshipsThe Irish Open Short Course Championships along with the Irish LC Championships, are the highest level competition which takes place in Ireland. Commonly referred to as 'The Nationals' the competition is run by Swim Ireland and takes place each year at the end of July/beginning of August and...
(July/August)
- Irish Open Diving Championships (November)
Swim Ireland works with the different regions in organising competitions such as provincial Age Group Championships as well as other graded, distance and inter-club meets. They also work with the Irish Schools Swimming Association who run the Irish Minor and Secondary Schools Championships.
The Age Group InterProvincial takes place every year at the beginning of the summer months for swimmers up to the age of 16 years. This is where teams from the 4 provinces of Ireland (Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht) compete against each other.
These competitions take place in either the National Aquatic Centre
National Aquatic Centre
The National Aquatic Centre is a water-sports facility located in the townsland of Abbotstown , near the village of Blanchardstown, in the city of Dublin, Ireland....
, Dublin or at University Arena, Limerick. Both pools have the compatibility to be changed into 50m and 25m.
In 2003, Swim Ireland hosted the European Short Course Championships at the National Aquatic Centre
National Aquatic Centre
The National Aquatic Centre is a water-sports facility located in the townsland of Abbotstown , near the village of Blanchardstown, in the city of Dublin, Ireland....
in Dublin. The event was a resounding success with a world record being broken by the Dutch in the final race, the men's 4x50m Freestyle relay.
Swim Ireland also organise The Liffey Swim
The Liffey Swim
The Liffey Swim is an annual race in Dublin's main river, the Liffey and is one of Ireland's most famous traditional sporting events. Swim Ireland organises the event and it is managed by volunteers....
which takes place in August to September annually.
Irish swimmers
Swim Ireland recently introduced a new squad structure. This begins with Club Level, then Regional Level, National Level, Team 2012 and finally the Elite Squad.Team 2012
Team 2012 contains swimmers who have the most potential of making the 2012 Olympics in London. On selected occasions throughout the swimming season the squad meet together to train in the pool, on land and also attend lectures regarding nutrition etc.Many fellow swimmers and coaches believe that money has been wasted (on trips to South Africa, Argentina etc.) as Swim Ireland is already under-funded.
Controversy
Swim Ireland sent 4 swimmers to the 2008 Olympic Games with Irish swimming hats which contravened OCI legislation; Swim Ireland were informed many times of the guidelines for which the hats had to follow, but still managed to ignore them. The mishap cost Melanie Nocher dearly as her goggles fell off during her 200m Freestyle heat due to the fact she had to wear a hat she was not used to and because the hat was not of a normal size.See also
- List of Olympic-size swimming pools in Ireland
- Sport in IrelandSport in IrelandIn Ireland many sports, such as boxing, hockey, rowing, cricket, rugby union, Gaelic football and hurling, are organised in an all-island basis, with a single team representing the whole of Ireland in international competitions...
- Eddie HeronEddie HeronEddie Heron was an Irish swimming champion.Eddie was Ireland diving champion on multiple occasions in the 1930s, and 1940's.Eddie trained with Olympic Champion Pete Desjardins in the U.S.A. in his younger years....
- Ger DoyleGer DoyleGer Doyle is an Irish former national swimming coach from Wexford, County Wexford.Doyle was coach of the Irish Olympic team at the 2000 and 2004 games...