Charlotte O’Driscoll Makes Waves from Fastnet to the English Channel

(JJ Hurley)

(Charlotte O'Driscoll who is making a quite splash in the world of swimming)

At just 16 years old, Charlotte O’Driscoll has achieved an impressive series of long-distance swimming milestones, including completing the 21km Fastnet swim and crossing the English Channel as part of a six-person relay team.

With further challenges planned for 2027, Charlotte hopes to use her passion for swimming to raise funds for Mencap.

In March 2026, Charlotte attended the Irish Long Distance Awards ceremony, where she was named Junior Female Swimmer of the Year, recognising her achievements in long-distance swimming.

Earlier this year, Charlotte completed the challenging 21km swim from Fastnet Rock to Baltimore in five hours and two minutes. To prepare, she completed a six-hour swim and an eight-hour qualifying swim for the Channel Swimming Association (CSA).

On 6 September, Charlotte swam 16km from Kilmacsimon to Sandycove in four hours and 20 minutes, adding another significant achievement to her growing list of long-distance swims.

Her latest challenge came on Friday, 25 September, when she joined five other swimmers to complete an English Channel relay in 13 hours and 33 minutes. The team, known as The Mighty Ones, consisted of Charlotte O’Driscoll, Tristan Glasmache, Ruby Tkaczyk, Zack Tkaczyk, Emma France and Nikki Pope.

Charlotte met the Mencap Marvels at Cork Distance Week in June 2026.

Following their meeting, Nikki Pope invited Charlotte to a training camp in Manchester in August, shortly after her Fastnet swim, and Charlotte subsequently joined the team for the Channel relay.

Preparing for the crossing required continued dedication. Charlotte maintained her training at home, swimming every morning in Sandycove and Fermoy. She also undertook night swims around Sandycove Island to help prepare for the challenge.

Charlotte is a member of the Oysterhaven Bunch, a group of sea swimmers who swim in Oysterhaven from May to September under the instruction of Imelda Lynch and Breda O’Driscoll.

The group is an important part of her connection to sea swimming.

Looking ahead, Charlotte plans to take part in another relay swim in July 2027 with a group from Oysterhaven.

Her longer-term ambition is to attempt a solo English Channel swim in August 2027, subject to the necessary preparation and qualifying requirements.

Charlotte hopes to make the solo crossing a fundraising challenge for Mencap, a charity that supports people with learning disabilities and their families.

Mencap’s Splash classes provide accessible and inclusive swimming lessons for children with special needs and disabilities.

Having already completed the Fastnet swim and an English Channel relay at just 16, Charlotte is continuing to build her experience in long-distance swimming.

Her future plans combine her ambition to take on further swimming challenges with a desire to raise funds for Mencap and support its work providing inclusive swimming opportunities for children with additional needs.