Observing a group of swimsuits standing at the River Foyle’s edge and gazing into water that moves more quickly than most people anticipate has a subtly charged quality. Locals will tell you that the Foyle is one of the fastest-moving tidal rivers in Europe, frequently without warning. From the Peace Bridge, it doesn’t appear hazardous. This is often the case.
Days before Derry’s Mayor Foyle Challenge in May, a decision was made with that tension at its core. The swim was scheduled to happen on the Foyle itself between the pontoon at the Council Offices and Prehen Boathouse. It was organized by Mayor Ruairí McHugh and ultra-endurance athlete and mental health advocate Danny Quigley.
The call to relocate then arrived. The river was judged unsafe to accommodate more than 150 registered swimsuits due to ongoing construction at Craigavon Bridge and tide monitoring that raised concerns. Creggan Country Park became the new venue for the event. Perhaps not perfect, but a responsible decision.
Some swimsuits might have been disappointed. Events like this one are partly about reclaiming the river and changing its story the Foyle carries a special weight in this city because it has been a source of grief for far too many families. When the current disregards symbolism, that reclamation is limited.
In this region of Ireland, swimming in open water requires a certain level of decency. Converging currents, cold water shock erratic tidal surges are real risks. At one point near Kinnagoe Bay, Danny Quigley had to tread water for forty-five minutes because three currents locked together and prevented him from moving forward. Quigley had completed an incredible 110km open water swim up the Foyle and Lough Foyle to commemorate the lives of 110 suicide victims. He is among the nation’s most skilled open water swimsuits. He had to wait it out, too.
The rules are the same for people who are drawn to wild swimming in County Derry’s inland or coastal waters. Never go swimming by yourself. Verify the tide times. Hypothermia strikes more quickly than most people realize, so wearing a wetsuit is absolutely necessary. The framework for Water Safety Ireland is in place for a reason: DAERA frequently releases data on water quality that should be reviewed before entering.
The Foyle Challenge was designed with safety in mind. With staggered entry times and assistance from Foyle Search and Rescue throughout, three waves of experienced swimsuits tackled a distance of three kilometers, while intermediates matched that distance and competent swimsuits completed one kilometer. That type of scaffold is important. It’s what distinguishes a well-managed open water event from an impending disaster.
Observing the rise in popularity of open water swimming throughout Ireland gives the impression that demand has surpassed knowledge. Social media is full of dawn dips and tow floats, groups are emerging the advantages for mental health are genuine and well-established. The River Foyle isn’t a recreational pool, though. It has never been. Foyle Search and Rescue’s presence at events like the Mayor’s Challenge is less ceremonial than it might seem the city is more aware of this than most.
Quigley’s swim and McHugh’s challenge are able to simultaneously hold both truths. Although the river is hazardous, it is still worthwhile to interact with it cautiously, collectively with the right kind of assistance. It wasn’t a retreat to move to Creggan when circumstances called for it. That was the idea.
i) http://www.derrystrabane.com/news/mayor-mchugh-and-danny-quigley-launch-innovative-open-water-swimming-challenge-on-river-foyle
ii) https://www.derryjournal.com/lifestyle/outdoors/swimmers-all-set-for-mayors-foyle-challenge-in-derry-this-weekend-8516640
iii) https://www.strabaneweekly.co.uk/community-lifestyle/2026/05/11/news/mayor-mchughs-swim-challenge-to-take-place-this-weekend-62881/