North Dublin Winter Swimming Club was founded almost a century ago in 1929.
The founding members were originally part of Clontarf Swimming Club with a home base in Clontarf Baths. A rift occurred within the club when some members approached the committee requesting that the club operate on a year round basis - swimming throughout the winter as well as Spring and Summer. The request was refused and so these 'rebel' members formed their own club, known today as NDWSC.
Because the founding members saw themselves as rebels, the Jolly Roger was adopted as the club crest with club colours of White on Black creating a classic strong brand that serves the club well today.
To this day, the members still train in The Baths throughout the summer and many senior members still swim all year round. This hardy bunch can be seen at high tide every day on Bull Wall near the monument and are affectionately known as 'The Legends'.
To this day, the members still train in The Baths throughout the summer and many senior members still swim all year round. This hardy bunch can be seen at high tide every day on Bull Wall near the monument and are affectionately known as 'The Legends'.
These days the club's primary sport is water polo and we have enjoyed regular success over the years in Leinster league and cup competitions. Our senior men have won the Irish Senior Cup - the premier competition in Irish water polo - in 1994 and 2017. At the time of writing, the 2023/2024 season to date has seen many high points in polo and we are current holders of the following:
Mens National League Division 1
Leinster Senior Mens Cup
Leinster U19 Mens Cup
Leinster Mens Division 3 League
National Womens League Division 1 Cup
Leinster Senior Mens Cup
Leinster U19 Mens Cup
Leinster Mens Division 3 League
National Womens League Division 1 Cup
A century on, we haven’t forgotten our swimming roots and we keep this swimming tradition alive with various open water swimming events through the year.
Channel Swimming:
We have a number of swimmers who have completed the English Channel swim, as recently as Neil Kennedy and Sarah Mortimer last year.
Leinster Open Sea Swimming:
5 Swimmers of the Year, 14 Liffey Swim Winners and 6 Dun Laoghaire Harbour Winners.
Channel Swimming:
We have a number of swimmers who have completed the English Channel swim, as recently as Neil Kennedy and Sarah Mortimer last year.
Leinster Open Sea Swimming:
5 Swimmers of the Year, 14 Liffey Swim Winners and 6 Dun Laoghaire Harbour Winners.
Summer Calendar:
In addition to hosting a race under the Leinster Open Sea Swimming Calendar, the club also has its very own sea race calendar for its members during the summer months. We encourage all members to take part – young and old, male and female – they are a great social outlet! We also hold sprint races in Clontarf Baths, competing for cups which go back to the early days of the club.
Christmas Swim:
We may not be as hardy as the club’s founders - who ran races outdoors on Christmas Day! - but we still maintain the tradition of the annual Christmas morning swim. Every year, we pick a deserving charity which benefits from our fundraising efforts.
In addition to hosting a race under the Leinster Open Sea Swimming Calendar, the club also has its very own sea race calendar for its members during the summer months. We encourage all members to take part – young and old, male and female – they are a great social outlet! We also hold sprint races in Clontarf Baths, competing for cups which go back to the early days of the club.
Christmas Swim:
We may not be as hardy as the club’s founders - who ran races outdoors on Christmas Day! - but we still maintain the tradition of the annual Christmas morning swim. Every year, we pick a deserving charity which benefits from our fundraising efforts.
