The Lecale Selkies open water swimmers take on North Channel in aid of Wave NI Surf School, a mental health charity
With a good weather forecast and favourable tides, the Lecale Selkies from Downpatrick are ready to take the splash after training for the past year to swim the North Channel in aid of Wave NI Surf ~School
To date the Selkies have raised over £11,000 for Wave NI Surf School which provides a cold water therapy and surf for children with mental health issues.
What is a selkie ? They were mythological creatures from Gaelic and Norse folklore that could shapeshift from being a seal to a human and could be kind, and even cruel.
The six ‘good’ ‘selkies are expected to dip their big toes in today if weather conditions are all cleared. They will be travelling from Bangor supported by a large RIB (Rubber Inflatable Boat) with a nurse for back-up. And they are determined to raise funds for their chosen charity, Wave NI Surf School
The swimmers have braved the waters of Ballyhornan and Newcastle for the past year in all seasons and weathers getting themselves fit for what will undoubtably be a pressure swim despite the calm sea conditions.
The swim will be a test of their stamina. The North Channel has strong currents and it may take them on a detour. Over the year, the temperature is approximately a steady 6 degrees centigrade. And the distance they will swim in relay will be from 35-45 Kilometres, depending on tides.
The test will be all the more difficult as they won’t be wearing wetsuits, flippers, gloves or boots. They will be swimming just in their skins.
Emma Bohill, the CEO at Down Business Centre, is one of the ‘selkies’, which in Gaelic means a fabled sea creature. But Emma was all smiles and looking forward to the challenge.
“There are six of us altogether doing the challenge and we will swim in a relay, each swimming for an hour apiece until we reach Portpatrick in Scotland. The last person swimming has to touch the rocks there to signify we have completed the swim.
“We are all amateur swimmers. We just want to do something that was unthinkable and go on a journey. It will be great craic.
‘”We are all pretty fit now and we are looking forward to it. The forecast is looking very good.
“It was decided not to cover ourselves in vaseline like many cold water swimmers do as it would make a big mess of the RIB.”
Another Selkie swimmer Colm Surginor said: “We will probably set off from the Gobbins at Donaghadee. The large RIB will act as our safety boat. It has taken a lot of training to do this but it is for a great cause.
“The swim is expected to take around 16 hours and it looks like all systems go at present. When we reach the rocks at Portpatrick, we will all swim on together for the craic. But someone has to officially touch the rocks there.
“This is definitely one of the toughest swims around and we just hope the weather remains calm.
“The journey back to Bangor will only take about an hour. Our families and friends will be there to meet as all and our arrival should be a big occasion. It will be great to get back on dry land again. I hope no-one gets seasick. “
The Lecale Selfies are also very grateful to Margaret Ferguson of the The Lakeside Inn for hosting a fund-raising quiz in March 2026 which raised around £1500. The swimming group decided around last June 2025 that they would support Wave NI.
And the Lecale Selkies are very grateful to sponsors Ciaran Russell Autos and MB McGrady & Co for their sponsorship.
The Lecale Selkie swimmers’ team is comprised of four men and two women: Emma Bohill and Ursula Tumelty, with Tony McLaughlin, Colm Surginor, Jerry McGrady and Stephen Heasley, and Denise Tumelty will be on the RIB as support team.
The Lecale Selkies are raring to go and are waiting on the final ‘all clear’.
Go Lecale Selkies Go !
Website: Click the link for more information about WaveNI Surf School
Facebook: Check out the Lecale Selkies.
