Imelda Lynch is the December Community Spirit Award Winner

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.

Pictured from left, Sophie Curtin, Cork International Hotel ; Imelda Lynch ; J.J. Hurley, Journalist and Vincent O'Donovan, Managing Editor, The Carrigdhoun Newspaper.

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.”