Local swimming legend completes epic Aran Island challenge

A LOCAL man has successfully completed the first ever solo swim around the largest island off the coast of Ireland.

On Saturday, July 13, to raise funds for the Aran Lifeboat, Beaumont resident Fergal Somerville successfully finished the first ever solo swim around Inismor, one of the Aran Islands.

He managed to swim the 35km around Inis Mór in 13 hours and raised over €8,500 for Aran Islands RNLI.

These funds will now go towards powering the station’s lifesaving work at sea.

This year marks the 175th anniversary of the Aran Lifeboat and the 200th anniversary of the RNLI.

61-year-old Fergal, who is a member of the very successful Eastern Bay Swim Team, has raised over €60,000 for various charities through his various water swimming fundraising events.

“On Friday afternoon, 12 July, the team of Gordon Adair, Mark Rush, Mags and I arrived on Inismor to meet with Barbara and John Conneely, and Mary-Frances Beatty to make final plans for the Aran Lifeboat fundraising ‘Round Inismor Swim 2024’,” Fergal tells Northside People.

“This swim, several years in planning, was originally scheduled for 15-17 July.

“Favourable conditions forecast by several weather apps brought forward the date by two days.

“In the Conneely household in the village of Gort na gCapaill, the six of us pored over Admiralty Chart 3339 ‘Approaches to Galway Bay including the Aran Islands’.

“The weather apps for the coming 24 hours were re-examined.”

“The Galway Bay low tide was confirmed 04:27 in the morning.”

By 9:00pm on Friday evening every light in the Conneely household had been extinguished.

Having reviewed map, weather, and tides the team agreed that swim would start the circumnavigation of Inismor from Dog’s Head on the southeast corner at 4:00am.

By 2:00am every light was back on in the house and a flurry of activity brought the team and supporters together to get to Killeany Harbour pier.

At 3:30am the ‘Lucky Lady’ was loaded with provisions, all travelling were lifejacketed, wives and lovers exchanged kisses and the swim team of John (pilot), Gordon (crew), Mark (observer) and me (swimmer), waving to family and friends, pulled away into the inky dark of Killeany Bay.

“This swim presented many challenges and planning was meticulous over several years,” Fergal says.

“With the swim started I headed out Gregory’s Sound, the gap between Inis Meáin and Inismor.

“The Aran Islands proudly protect Galway Bay.

“As pillars, the islands funnel the tides through the gaps tides. The effect of substantially increases the tidal flows. In Gregory’s Sound swimming close to the cliffs on the Inismor side was a hugely important part.

“However, after the start the tidal flow drew me into the middle of the Sound. This required urgent correction. Going out through the middle would have brought me into the Atlantic and forced a longer swim – likely to delay reaching the top end of the island.

“Being beaten by the tide was a risk throughout the swim.

“For the final 400m in the Gregory Sound I struggled to close the gap to the cliffs on the Inismor side.

“I turned at a right angle to the planned route and sprinted for Glasson Rock, the southeast corner of the island.

“I slowly inched closer and made a tight turn around the corner – avoiding being pulled out into the wilder Atlantic. At the corner I met a chowder of varying types of jellyfish – an occupational hazard for sea swimmers.

“Though stung over 40 times in the day the pain rarely lasted longer than a few minutes.”

Once around this main corner the swim started in earnest.

The darkness of the 4:00am start passed and daylight arrived.

“As long as I kept breathing to the right I could see that every stroke was propelling me forward,” Fergal says.

“However, if and when, I looked forward I could see the much of the 15km to be covered to the top of the island.

“I had always enjoyed that this swim would give me a perspective that no one had previously enjoyed; view of Dun Aongeas from the sea, a bronze age fort on the western side of Inismor.

“As I passed the Dún some hours later I was enthralled at the fort perched 100m/300+ft above the sea and wondered about the ancestors who built it and the lives they lived.

“The swimming is tiring but I must push on.

“As with any and every other distance swim I thought several times that the next stop would be the last.

“At almost 61 years of I was pursuing activity not normally associated with such an age.”

So what goes through someone’s mind during a 13 hour swim?

“Being in the water for over eight hours with only your own thoughts to keep you company is not on any mental health management therapy,” Fergal says.

“I usually talk to dead people.

“Throughout a swim I have regular conversations with my parents, George and Mary, my eldest brother, Kevin, my paternal grandparents, Walter and Winnie, aunts, uncles, friends, and so on.

“I recollect and re-examine minute incidents from primary school – for example, on a holiday in Holywood, County Down, the Ma was dishing out a slap to my older brother, Niall.

“This year our family lost four people who are close to us; Michael, Nana, Diarm and Declan. In the course of the swim we shared several individual and round table memories.

“With each of these the distance to go is peeling away. Their input serves to relive many happy memories and lighten the load.”

With 4km left to swim Fergal could see a bonfire on his beloved Inis Meáin and is thankful for their support.

“We are gone over the 12 hours and the tide is coming back in through the Gregory Sound and again pushing against me,” he continues.

“I am exhausted and stopping too often and for too long.

“This is driving the crew on the boat mad.

“With about 600m to go I am confident that I will complete the swim.

“No hassle. How many times have I swam 600m.

“So, I stop to adjust my goggles. I’m just glad I’m not on that boat.

“Eventually, calm breaks out on the boat, and I’m instructed to make my way to ‘yonder rock’.

“Off I go.

“They must have reconciled their argument because all three are much more pleasant now.

“I’m told to touch or stand on the rock.

“I stand on it, sure I’m full of beans.

“The swim is over. 13 hours and 27 minutes and all four of us are ecstatic.

“I’m invited back onto the boat for handshakes, hugs, and a few digs I have well and truly earned.”

On Kilronan pier Fergal is met by a large crowd of all ages.

“Each of them came to meet me personally and congratulate me on the swim,” he says.

“The lifeboat volunteers put on tea and sandwiches for all.

“Before leaving for my lodgings I was presented with a t-shirt that says Aran Lifeboat Team.

“A very welcome memento.

“I was recently told that I am now as well known as the Aran Lifeboat.

“I said that may well be the case but the craft in distress will continue to call the lifeboat.

“All my marathon and channel swims have been tough.

“Inismor is probably the toughest.

“The circumnavigation of Ireland’s largest island was always going to take longer than 12 hours – that’s two tides.

“ This means battling against the tide for a considerable distance.

“Having completed 3/4 of the 35km distance I was exhausted and felt I could not go much further.

“But, I am inspired by the bravery of the lifeboat crews who, putting their lives at risk, respond immediately to ‘shouts’.

“They never give up.

“Therein lies the testimony to their service”