A NEW twist on the legendary Fastnet Swim saw Éibhín Butler, Clodagh Sweeney, Thelma Jones, and Liz Duggan do a 22km relay to raise funds for the Jack and Jill Foundation.

The four friends from Cork and Dublin embarked on their ‘Fastnet for Hugo – Making Waves for Jack and Jill’ endeavour at 8am in the morning.

Éibhín said the Jack and Jill Foundation is currently providing essential care for a very special little boy, Hugo Yelverton, and his family, as they face the challenges of serious illness.

‘We dedicated the swim to Hugo, and to all the families Jack and Jill support across Ireland,’ she added.

The four swimmers surpassed their €20,000 target by almost €1,000, and Éibhín confirmed that people can still make donations on their iDonate page up until October 31st.

Éibhín described how the demanding route tested each of them against strong currents, unpredictable weather, and the cold, open water.

‘With every stroke,’ she said, ‘we focused on raising awareness and raising vital funds for the Jack and Jill Foundation, so it was more than just a swim, it was a symbol of the resilience, love, and the strength of carers everywhere.’

The Jack and Jill Foundation funds specialist nursing care for seriously ill children in their own homes. Éibhín, who was the first swimmer in the water, said the legendary Lough Hyne lapper, Noel Browne, was there to wave them off from Baltimore pier.

After an hour-long swim, Éibhín was followed in the relay by Clodagh, then Thelma (who is little Hugo’s granny) and finally Liz. They swam in rotation for an hour each until they reached the Fastnet in a time of six hours and 17 minutes.

Éibhín said they had to contend with mauve stinger jellyfish, which pack a punch, adding: ‘Some big swells caused quite a bit of seasickness on the boat, but we toughed it out before jumping back in the water to join Thelma for the last few metres.’

The moment they landed on the Fastnet Rock was captured for posterity, and Éibhín recalls being in awe of the lighthouse and what an imposing feat of engineering it is.

‘It takes a village to make something like this happen, and we are indebted to so many people, including family, friends, work colleagues, fellow swimmers from Dublin and Cork, and our friend Fred Penny from 22Press who sponsored our amazing team togs.

‘All of the people involved in organising and promoting the Fastnet Swims made our day,’ said Éibhín. ‘They kept our spirits high and doled out encouragement, advice, and kept us pumped with great music on board throughout the journey.’