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Marathon Swim Stories has been a gift to me in so many ways, and how about this one, meeting a kindred spirit halfway around the world in Northern Ireland! Michelle Macy recommended that I find out Maureen McCoy's story, and I'm so glad that we connected. Maureen literally wrote the book on wild swimming in Ireland - https://wildswim.wordpress.com/! And her love of swimming shines through in our conversation. She even recommends a few of her favorite swim spots in case you're planning a post pandemic trip to Ireland! Enjoy!

In her own words: Author, Wild Swimmer, Marathon Swimmer, Swim Tutor
Having swum in the sea, loughs and rock pools with her family since she was a small child, in 2009, just after her fortieth birthday, she fulfilled her childhood ambition to swim the English Channel. 

Maureen, amongst other swims, was Irish Ladies 17km Champion in 2006, she was in the first relay team to complete the full length of the two lough Ernes, Co Fermanagh, completed her English Channel solo in 2009 and the Pennock Island Challenge swim in Alaska in 2013. She also completed the Ice mile in 2015 and has since been exploring Ireland for hidden swim spots and writing.

Maureen trained as a lifeguard and swimming teacher and has been teaching and coaching swimming for 30+ years, including developing the Couch to 5km Swim Program with Waterways Ireland and FLOW Swimming Northern Ireland Open Water Coaching.

Maureen joined a local writing group in 2010 and began to write poetry and articles on swims, several of which were published in The Swimming Times, local and national papers. 

She published her first book, Wild Swimming in Ireland 2016 (Collins Press ISBN 978-1-84889-280-4) with photographer Paul McCambridge 
In her role as a Swim Ireland Tutor she now helps to train the next generation of swim teachers.

Maureen enjoys outdoor swimming throughout the year and she always keeps a swimsuit in her car – just in case.

Website: https://wildswim.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Flowswimming.ni/ https://www.facebook.com/maureen.mccoy.568

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Music credit:

Epic Inspiration  by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5447-epic-inspiration-
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry.

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