I'm very late getting this page organised.I am delighted to say I'll be taking part in the Galway Bay Swim 2023!!I'll be doing it in memory of my darling Michelle but also for Michelle's mum Marie Silke who we sadly lost in Oct 2022. I'll also dedicate it to Vicky Phelan.I have to extend a very big thank you to my supporters over my previous 5 Galway Bay Swims, in total you have contributed Eu20,000.00 to this wonderful cause.This year, and only if you can afford it, I'd like to ask if you can support Cancer Care West, we would be very grateful.

Here's hoping for a calm sea next Sat 15th July 2023.

Back in Feb I didn't think I would be able to do this swim. I fell on my shoulder, as in fell over. No crash, no road accident, no fall from a ladder, no tumbling.Physio, anti-inflammatories, MRI later, partial rotator-cuff tear and bursitis. Months of no improvement.Out of frustration I got Annie to get out the rolling pin and roll out the knots in my bicep, tricep and deltoid (spelling?). And it worked!!!!Finally a little bit of relief. Several trips to the pool to swim as slow as possible with lots and lots of stretching. I'm sure I looked like a tool on the poolside.More and more slow pool swimming, technique correction and stretching....Then time to put the shoulder to the test and I did 1km in Rinville and I was ok after it, a little stiff but no worse than before.Then 3km in Salthill, and my shoulder held up.One more trip to the physio, my god can she inflict pain. I don't like dry-needling but it really helped. Black and blue I returned to the pool.Then came the litmus test: 6km in Salthill then a 9km swim in Salthill the following Sunday. I'm back!!

Thankfully my skipper Brian Martyn still has a boat for me and Niall Murphy is also still available!!!

Follow along on Facebook live video on the day, Niall's commentary went down a treat these last five years, no pressure Niall.

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