THE 100th Dublin City Liffey Swim will celebrate its milestone on Saturday, August 3.
One of Ireland's most famous traditional sporting events, the Jones Engineering Dublin City Liffey Swim has grown in popularity over the years to become a wonderful spectator event.
Over 600 swimmers are expected to take part in this year’s competition, with participants travelling from all over the world to take part in this historic race.
Entrants to the Liffey Swim had to complete six qualifying open sea races from the annual Leinster Open Sea Calendar to be eligible for this race.
The competition is run each year by Leinster Open Sea Swimming, a voluntary not for profit organisation, in partnership with Dublin City Council.
This year’s competition will begin at the Watling Street Bridge and end at Custom House Quay, with the men’s swim race kicking off at 12pm and the women’s swim race beginning at 1pm.
Competitors will race 2,200 metres downstream underneath the key bridges of Dublin City, while cheered on by spectators.
Jones Engineering, Dublin City Council and Liffey Swim organisers are encouraging members of the public to come along on Saturday, August 3 to witness this historic event.
Speaking ahead of the race, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Paul Mc Auliffe, said: “This year will see more entrants than ever before take part in the Jones Engineering 100th Dublin City Liffey Swim.
“Over 600 swimmers will take to the water in the 2,200-metre race from the Rory O’More Bridge to the Custom House.
“I am honoured to have the privilege of starting both the men’s and women’s races on the centenary of the first race through Dublin in 1920, and I’m also celebrating a 100th birthday party in the Mansion House for this great occasion after the race.
“Dublin was a much different city since then, but the Liffey Swim has held its special place in the heart of Dubliners. I encourage everyone to come along and be part of this unique spectacle.”
Jim Curley, Chief Executive Jones Engineering, added: “While creating the projects of the future it is important to play our part in preserving the legacy of our past.
“Jones Engineering was established in 1890 and 30 years later the first Liffey Swim took place. Over the next 100 years, while we worked on iconic buildings throughout Dublin, we watched and cheered as the brave swimmers took up the challenge of swimming 2.2km through the heart of the city.
“It’s been a century of happy memories. We are very proud to be the title sponsors of this swim, which has a special place in the heart of Dubliners and a special connection to our own history.”
An Post will issue a special postage stamp celebrating the Dublin Liffey Swim Centenary on Thursday, August 1, featuring the famous Jack B Yeats painting The Liffey Swim.
The €1 stamp and a limited edition first day cover envelope will be available at the GPO Dublin, selected post offices and online at irishstamps.ie on the day.
To celebrate the launch of the swim, a photocall at Custom House Quay featured a group of swimmers taking part in this year’s race, along with one of Ireland’s last remaining trams as well as actors in period costume, replicating the iconic Jack B Yeats 1923 painting ‘The Liffey Swim’.