DECEMBER 2025 Winner – Community Spirit Award winner Imelda Lynch
Imelda Lynch has been named as the December recipient of The Cork International Hotel
Community Spirit Award, presented in association with The Carrigdhoun Newspaper. The
award recognises individuals who make an exceptional and lasting contribution to their
communities, Imelda has dedicated her time to teaching members of the community to swim
and appreciate the benefits the sea has on our physical bodies and our mental health.
Tracton’s Imelda Lynch is set to once again help people conquer their fear of the water in
2026, as she returns to guide swimmers along the shores of Oysterhaven through her
hugely popular sea-swimming classes. What began as small, informal lessons during the
Covid period has since grown into the thriving Oysterhaven Bunch, which now includes 270
adult swimmers and almost 400 children across its junior ranks.
For Imelda, sea swimming offers far more than physical fitness. She believes there is
something deeply therapeutic about the water and the shared experience it creates. “People
tell me they have taken up sea swimming for all kinds of reasons,” she explained, “not just
for health and fitness, but also to relieve stress, cope with grief, or simply to get a bit of
headspace.” This sense of calm and connection has become a defining feature of the
Oysterhaven swimming community.
While fear and nervousness around open water are common, Imelda has seen
first-hand how the supportive environment of Oysterhaven helps swimmers
overcome those anxieties. “Swimmers have overcome their fears in Oysterhaven in
the company of other swimmers who are just as nervous,” she said. “These fears are
much easier to face in a group setting and with the encouragement of others.”
A qualified swimming coach since the age of 21, Imelda brings a wealth of
experience to her coaching. In 2005, she made history as the first woman from Cork
to swim the English Channel, a remarkable achievement that has inspired many
others to follow. Since then, she has coached numerous successful Channel
swimmers, including Danny Coholan, Eddie Irwin, Ray Terry, Liam Maher, Finbarr
Hedderman, Rob Bohane and Lisa Cummins.
Imelda is currently training her latest team – Katherine McCarthy, Shea and Frea
McCarthy, Niall Dillon and Con Walsh – who are preparing to attempt the English
Channel as a relay group in August. With growing numbers, ambitious goals and a
strong sense of community, it is an exciting time for Imelda and the Oysterhaven
Bunch, and she hopes their journey will inspire even more people to take the plunge.
Vincent O’Donovan, Publisher of The Carrigdhoun Newspaper congratulated Imelda
on the award, saying “Imelda is an inspiration to the local community. Through her
dedication and encouragement, she has helped hundreds of people overcome fear,
build confidence and enjoy the physical and mental benefits of sea swimming. Her
work has created a supportive community that has made a real and lasting impact on
people of all ages