Irish Long Distance Swimming Association

The Irish Long Distance Swimming Association is an inductee (Honour Organisation) in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame

Irish Long Distance Swimming Association is an inductee of the Ireland Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame

Irish Long Distance Swimming Association committee

ILDSA President Billy Wallace, Maureen McCoy, Michelle Macy and Sheena Paterson (left to right) after Michelle Macy's record-breaking North Channel swim

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ILDSA observer Andrew Coyle, escort pilot Quinton Nelson, Milko van Gool, and Irish Long Distance Swimming Association President Billy Wallace after van Gool's record-setting North Channel crossing on 30 July 2013

noun - The Irish Long Distance Swimming Association (ILDSA) is a governing body and association that oversees open water swims, channel swims, and marathon swims in Ireland, including swims across the North Channel. It is a Patron of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.

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Copeland Island Swim sanctioned by the ILDSA

The Irish Long Distance Swimming Association was founded in 1966 with the aim of promoting open water swimming. Honourary Secretary Fred Parkes and General Secretary John Moffett, together with Treasurer Jimmy Boyd, organised four events in its first season: since then the association has organised over 300 open water events, providing thousands of swimmers an opportunity to compete at the highest levels. It has been recognized in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 2011 as an Honour Organisation. It will be recognized and honored at the 2012 Global Open Water Swimming Conference and the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame induction ceremonies on the RMS Queen Mary on 22 September 2012 in Long Beach, California.

Usage

The swimmer got his swim ratified by the Irish Long Distance Swimming Association.

2016 Committee

President Billy Wallace, Co Antrim
Vice President Lynsey Dunne, Co Sligo
Chairperson Stephen Millar, Co Dublin
Vice Chairperson Michael Glover, Co Down
Honorary Secretary Pippa Campbell Co Antrim
Honorary Treasurer Mary Bolger Hinds, Co Kildare
Recorder Jeff McCormick, Co Antrim

Promotion and Development

The ILDSA established development races that would introduce pool swimmers to the outdoor environment. However, the mainstay of the ILDSA calendar were the following races:

Belfast Lough
Dublin Bay
Shannon Esturary
Gaulway Bay
Lough Neagh
Carlingford Lough
Rathlin Sound

These races served as competition for all and for some, preparation for the Blue Ribbon of long distance swimming, the English Channel. Indeed, many of today's Channel Swimmers test themselves in ILDSA events in Clew Bay, Co. Mayo and annual Championships at Lough Erne before attempting the English Channel. The consistent, high standard of the ILDSA events and its contributions have been internationally recoginsed: the ILDSA received the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Award of Merit in 1995.

In addition to promoting races, the ILDSA has sought to set standards to long distance challenges. It provided relay teams that were the first to swim the North Channel and the length of Lough Neagh. The ILDSA has provided observers for North Channel attempts and individual swims in all parts of Ireland.

From the swims of Ray Cossum to Jim Swift, the ILDSA has increased its expertise in long distance swimming. It offers practical opportunities, a support network, and encouragement and recognition to those who accept the challenge of the Channel swimming.

ILDSA Awards

Bray Seafront is a 1.5 km open water swim in Ireland sanctioned by the Irish Long Distance Swimming Association