By Sean Moriarty

A Mid-Kerry woman, who is aiming to swim every day for a year, will include Dundag Beach in her ‘Dip A Day’ fundraiser for Pieta House.

Aishling Clifford started sea swimming on August 6 last year at Rossbeigh. During the 5km restrictions she was unable to get to her local beach so she started swimming in Caragh Lake instead.

When inter-county restrictions were lifted she was able to broaden her horizons and since last August has swam in either a lake or the sea every day. So far she has clocked up 47 different swimming locations across the entire country.

As she nears her one year anniversary of her ‘Dip a Day’ challenge, she has decided to raise funds for Pieta House over the 40 days leading in to the anniversary.

Her best friend Stephanie O’Sullivan died tragically 10 years ago and Aishling wanted to remember her while raising funds for the national suicide awareness charity.

“When we were growing up there was no help for mental health sufferers, we knew nothing about it,” she told the Killarney Advertiser. “A lot of people are suffering because of lockdown.”

She will swim at Dundag Bay near Muckross House on July 17 as part of the fundraiser and is calling on all local swimmers to join her at 9.30am on the day.

“Before lockdown, you would not find me near the water,” she told the Killarney Advertiser. “Caragh Lake became my second home. It was very cold in February and March. Rossbeigh is like a sauna after swimming in the lakes.”

Donations to 'Dip a Day’ can be made via: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/aishling-clifford.