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IRLIreland
Two years after crossing to France, the Dublin swimmer went from Scotland to Northern Ireland in 11 hours 25 minutes 5 seconds.
View athlete profileAlso recorded as Colm O'Neill.
Colm O’Neill of County Dublin swam from England to France in 11 hours 42 minutes in 2002. Two years later he crossed from Scotland to Northern Ireland. The Ireland Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame identifies him as the second swimmer from Ireland to complete both channels, after Ted Keenan.
O’Neill finished tenth in the 2008 Manhattan Island Marathon Swim. In 2011 he joined the Irish Sea fundraising relay known as The Swim. His induction into the Ireland Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 2020 also recognised his work mentoring open-water swimmers in Cork.
Route and clocks · The CS&PF records a 07:28 departure from England and a 19:10 finish in France, an elapsed time of 11 hours 42 minutes. It gives no named beaches. The register does not specify a time zone.
Escort and ratification · Lance Oram piloted Sea Satin, with Eddie Spelling as observer. The CS&PF ratified the solo crossing.
Direction and time · Scotland to Northern Ireland in 11 hours 25 minutes 5 seconds.
Escort · Brian Meharg piloted Purple Heather.
Infinity Channel Swimming, North Channel solo register
Irish Long Distance Swimming Association, North Channel history
Course · Counterclockwise around Manhattan from Pier A at the Battery.
Result · 7:55:47, 10th overall. The historical results list this finish as entry 623.
No reviewed recording is available for this entry.
Latest source review .
