Bog Snorkelling Hits South America

Last years event truely went international when we recieved footage of a piece that went on national Brazial TV. Maria Socorr Sampaio and her crew recorded an interview  from our day along with some of  our competitors .Check out the footage and also our fluent Portuguese!!

                Interview on   Brazilian Station 8  

Bog Snorkelers raise a Grand

The 3rd Go Ireland Irish Bog Snorkelling Championships had the pleasure of presenting a cheque to St.Mary’s Hospital for €1,000 from their recent event.Organiser Declan Connolly says “It was great to be able to donate this money to The Lorgan Unit and Day Care Ward at St.Mary’s Hospital .The service and facilities this hospital provides is second to none and we were only delighted to help .We would like to thank our main sponsor Go Ireland.com and local sponsors Raymond Watters “Old Coach Inn”,Castleblayney Plant Hire ,Sean Conlon TD,Mc Ardles Office Supplies and Castleblayney Enterprise Center without who’s help this would not be possible “.

Declan is planning 2012 already says “We are adding new attractions ,weekend camping and maybe even a bit of live music thrown in, so mark 7-9 September 2012 on your calendar.”

Jonathan’s win gets international coverage

Jonathon Hillard finally takes first place at  3rd “GoIreland” Irish Bog Snorkelling Championships http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ycn-9119839 via @YahooSports

The Battle of the Bog Warriors – Irish Bog Snorkeling Championships 2011

                                                          “An account from a participant “

The brave souls gathered beside the murky bog-water to do battle. Masks down, neoprene body armour donned, an army of eejits waddling through the fields of Monaghan in their flippers to vie for the title of Bog Snorkelling Champion 2011. Any event that requires people to wear flippers is going to be good craic, nobody can look elegant, composed or graceful in flippers. Get Elle McPherson to don a mask, a snorkel and parade around in flippers and she too would look like a tit! Bog snorkelling is one of the last great levelers. The surreal nature of what lay ahead of me was hinted at as I drove through Cootehill and spotted the poster for the pig racing that was taking place later that afternoon; baby pigs complete with plastic jockeys strapped to their backs. Trying to take this information in while Paul ‘Uh Ahh’ McGrath sang ‘Sunday Morning Coming Down’ on the radio, it was becoming clear that David Lynch was directing my day!

The Irish Bog Snorkelling championships take place in a bog-water filled channel, at the bottom of  a field in the wondefully named townland of Doohamlet. It’s sounds even better when said in the Monaghan brogue.There is no doubt that the main purpose of this event is to have fun, whether you’re young, old, local or blow in. Besides the main event, there’s a barbacue, a fine seleciton of liquid refreshmens, a bouncy castle and a selection of weird and wonderful bog snorkelers to mingle with.  The good natured spirit of the event is evident from the moment you arrive, with upbeat banter flowing bewtween everyone in attedence, awaiting to take part in what is refered to locally as “Good clane fun!”; the irony being that you’ll be covered in peat, weeds, creepy crawlies and God only knows what else, as soon as you finish your efforts in the bog water.  The Chef De Quipe of the Tullamore ladies bog-snorkelling team (aka the Tullamore ladies hockey team) told me that her team had been preparing by massaging their calves; I’m not sure how rubbing young cattle might help prepare for bog paddling, but it must have worked cos one of the Offaly lasses took the ladies title! It was 20 quid to have a pop at the title and you got two baby bottles of whiskey, a t-shirt, a certificate and tiny pieces of turf in most orifices of your body. The proceeds of the event went towards raising funds for St. Mary’s hospital in Castleblaney, how can you not take your swimming hat off to that

The craic is that you swim two lengths of the channel, up and back. You can’t use your arms for conventional swimming strokes, underwater doggy paddling is permitted, but it soon became apparent that the best approach is to stretch you arms out in front of you to cut through the water like a torpedo or tugboat, whatever the case may be.  As you make your way along the channel, the Master of Ceremonies for the days events, follows you along the bank with a microphone, giving you both encouragement and abuse in equal measures. This fella is funny! Here’s some of his classics from the days commentary:

Addressing a snorkeller from Cavan (reputedly the meanest people in Ireland)… “G’wan ya hoor ya,  there’s a fiver down at the other end”.

 Encouraging a folically challanged competitor from Altlanta, Georgia…“This bog-water can cure baldness John, is chaper than fake tan, but unfortunately it can’t cure being American”.

Egging on a young girl who was finding the challenge a bit much… “I’d say the world record is safe, I’m after growing a fecking beard”.

As a spaniel leapt into the bog after a competitor… “G’wan ya dog ya!”.

When my turn came, I tore into it and didn’t do too bad. I was topping the leader board there for a while, but a U.S. Marine, a duracell bunny like German and a series of experienced boggers knocked me down into sixth place. I thought that was a respectable enough showing for my first stab at doing lengths in a bog though!? And before you ask, as more than one cynic has, there was more than 6 people competing ;-P When it was all wrapped up, it was off to the local in Castleblaney for the prize giving and liberal administering of liquid refreshments, only to take the take the taste of bog-water out of our mouths don’t you know Music on the night was provided by “The Cheesy Bitches”. Perfect! I’m hoping to do much better next year! Some people run with the bulls in Pamplona, some bungee jump in New Zeland, but lads, ye haven’t lived until you’ve snorkelled in a bog in Monaghan.

Jonnathan lands title ,3rd time lucky

Jonnathan Hillard took the 3rd “GoIreland”Irish Bog Snorkellling Championship title after finishing second the previous 2 years with a time of 1.31.34.Emman Delahunt took the ladies title with a time of 2.34.Entrants from USA,Germany and Hungry gave this years  event an international feel along with swimmers from Armagh,Kerry,Dublin,Tipperary and Monaghan.Check out todays Irish Times.http://tinyurl.com/3h3kgrl

Hector on 2FM

Just loaded up pop-cast of interview with Hector on 2FM,check it out on http://www.irishbogsnorkelling.com/ …..up Nudie Hughes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just made Irish Times !!

http://tinyurl.com/3wtcaj2

Lads check out the Jazucci

Final preparations are under way at Alice’s Loft & Cottages for this weekends 3rd “GoIreland.com”Irish Bog Snorkelling Championships”.Competitors Ignatius Mc Kinney and John Toland are seen checking out the “Jacuzzi ” which entrants can relax in after their run .This unique feature has been sculptured out of the Bog and it naturally fills with lovely mucky water which is “great for the skin “.Organiser Declan Connolly says “we have everything in place now ,the Jacuzzi is bubbling away nicely ,the Bog Run has been cleared of weeds and the Bog Monster chained up safely “.

After an interview with Hector on RTE 2 during the week the number of entrants has shot up and Declan is expecting a great turnout .Declan explains “We have stuff for the kids ,B-B-Q with refreshments for the adults and we finish up at the Old Coach Inn for the presentations.Competitors can register on the day with all proceeds going to St.Mary’s hospital.”The event kicks off at 12 noon on Saturday.

GoIreland new Sponsor

We are delighted to team up with GoIreland.com, Ireland’s best accommodation booking site.

GoIreland.com is an Irish company based in Co Kerry. We know that Ireland is the best place in the world to holiday and we Irish are the best people in the world to visit. We know full well it can be sunny out the front of the house and raining out the back. We’ve been swimming in the Atlantic and don’t care what anyone says, it’s not ok once you get down. We know that chips taste better from a chip van by the sea, but we don’t know why. We use the word sorry to get attention in restaurants. We say thank you to the bus driver.

Unlike our multi-national corporate rivals, we know the nooks and crannies on this island and have rooms available in every one at a price to suit every pocket. We’re the best site to book a room in this country because we understand the diverse range of reasons people take a holiday here, unlike our corporate and multi-national rivals who seem to think it’s all about riding horses on the beach and playing footsy with your partner in a Michelin star restaurant.

We know its all about the gang of girls on a hen, the ladies down for the bridge weekend, the lads who go up for the match the night before, the German fellas over for the fishing and the couple celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. We’re from around here, so we know what people want. This is why we offer more rooms in Ireland than any other site, with the best late availability and without a booking fee.

Bog Monster signs up for Snorkelling on 10th

Organisers of next weeks 3rd ”GoIreland.com” Irish Bog Snorkelling Championships got a surprise when they were practicing a few lengths .Declan Connolly main organizer explains “Myself and some of the lads were just doing a few lengths when something came  out from the bog .It war roaring like a Banshee and moving towards us a great speed .The old saying about  music calming the monster definitely works because a local farmer was passing playing Daniel o Donnell and he just stopped in his tracks .Its whole attitude changed and he started to mimic us in the water .We now have him doing 2 minute lengths and looks like a real contender “.The organizers are hoping to entice him out again on the 10th but will make sure they have music as a safety net .Declan has it signed up and says “You know its amazing whet you find in an Irish Bog “