The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
FORMER Irish Rugby international Rosie Foley has dived into an elite group of about 279 people who have achieved the gruelling Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming.
The 49-year-old Killaloe native recently followed in the footsteps of her mentor, Fionnuala Walsh, by completing the 32.3 km swim across the Catalina Channel between Santa Catalina Island and the Southern California mainland in the United States.
In July 2014, Rosie completed the 33.5 km swim across the English Channel between England and France and the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, a 45.9 km circumnavigation around Manhattan Island last June.
She has also become just the second Irish woman to finish a marathon swimming challenge consisting of three historically important swims around the world.
The mother-of-three undertook the charity challenge in memory of her brother, the late Munster and Irish rugby legend Anthony Foley, who died on October 16, 2016.
All proceeds will go to the Mid-Western Cancer Foundation, children’s charity CARI and CRY, which provides screening and free bereavement counselling for families at risk of Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS).
When Rosie completed the swim, she experienced a great feeling of satisfaction and achievement.
“I was relieved and really proud. At times it is hard to believe. It is great to finish a swim like this and know you have achieved your goal.
“I didn’t realise that less than 300 have completed these three swims until it was pointed out to me on Sunday, which is lovely. You have to work hard to get there and sometimes you just have to go out and prove you can do something.
“Age and gender isn’t a barrier, which I think is important to show my own daughters and children in school what can be done. It takes a bit of luck as well.”
In an interview with the Clare Champion, Rosie recalled she had to mentally prepare for swimming through the night in the dark, starting at 10.40pm California time and finishing in the late afternoon after almost 17 hours in the water.
In addition to a safety escort boat, Rosie took her food from a kayaker who was lit up with glow sticks and a light on her head. Rosie had a light on the back of her head and togs.
Her kayaker Grace Van Der Byl is the record holder for the Catalania channel, while Rosie also had the assistance of Ms Walsh and Jennie Swith.
The St Anne’s Community College PE teacher concentrated on maintaining a steady pace from one feed to the next, which were provided practically every 30 minutes.
“Swimming in our black lake was a godsend for me growing up. Maybe I have been training for this all my life. I normally wear tinted goggles but you have to wear clear goggles for night swimming.
“I have completed night swimming in the canal in Killaloe and out in Cappa, Kilrush with Fionnuala as part of training for the English Channel.
“All of these swims have different challenges. For this swim, you swim halfway through the night.”
While there were times when Rosie felt a bit tired and was left wondering what she was doing, she also had the determination to do everything possible to finish it.
“It is a privilege to be able to have the opportunity to do these swims. Everyone doesn’t get a chance to give it a lash. What drove me on was Anthony won his Triple Crown so I wanted my own one. There was always a bit of craic and rivalry in my house, which was in my head as well.”
Another motivating factor was the fact that Rosie will be 50 on October 27 and the fact the swim was before the sixth anniversary of Anthony’s death.
In the lead-up to the swim, Rosie swam at least 14 kilometres a week, which she fitted in between matches and training in her “sports mad house”.
Commenting on her chosen charities, Rosie acknowledged CRY helps families like the Foleys by screening people who are risk for Sudden Adult Death and provide a free helpline for bereavement.
CARI provide counselling and support services for children who have suffered the heinous crime of sexual abuse and Mid-Western Cancer foundation provides free support services, including counselling and holistic therapies for cancer patients.
Rosie’s fundraising campaign is part of an ongoing fundraiser set up by their younger sister, Orla, called Orla’s Wildways.
Orla has cycled the coast of Ireland, The Camino and across France, raising more than €34,000 for the three charities.
Orla said her late brother, Anthony is still inspiring his family and others to reach for the stars.
“When Rosie swam the English Channel, Anthony quipped ‘Have you ever heard of using a boat Rosie’ or ‘There are easier ways to get to France – say a plane?’.”
“Rosie is a humble sportswoman whose achievements are endless since she was a young girl captaining our school team to wins in camogie, winning a Junior All Ireland Gaelic Football medal as player and trainer, and achieving a lifetime dream of playing 39 times for Ireland, following in her brother, Anthony’s and father, Brendan’s footsteps,” said Orla.
“Like her brother she captained Munster to an interprovincial championship. As an avid lover of swimming, she has been actively involved with the Irish Water Safety Association and advocates water safety. As a physical education teacher, coach and president of her local Killaloe Ballina Rugby Club, she continues to give back to sport.”
To donate to CRY, CARI and Mid-Western Cancer foundation, visit Orla’s Wild Ways on idonate.com
