Henry O’Donnell (Anrí O’Domhnaill) has successfully completed his epic swim around Ireland!
The Carrickfin native began his ‘FinSwim’ challenge from Carrickfin Blue Flag Beach and landed back there to a heroes welcome yesterday afternoon.
Anrí has become the first person in history to circumnavigate a country by Finswimming (swimming with the use of fins) and in doing so will help to raise funds for two national charities.
The circumnavigation of Ireland challenge aims to raise €100k for Irish Cancer Society (ICS) and Water Safety Ireland (WSI).
The ‘Finman’ began his journey in 2020 but due to covid and work commitments, has had a stop/start time.
He reached the halfway mark in October 2021.
So far, almost €50,000 has been donated online to the cause.
Posted on the Finswim2020 Facebook page yesterday, Anrí said: “A very special thank you to all the people, local and national groups, that came out today to support the #Finswim2020 Expedition. Too many to mention in one post. Thank you to each and everyone.”
The idea and concept of solo swimming around the Irish coast were conceived by Anrí as far back as 1990.
Amazingly, he recovered from a life-threatening sports accident (which left him paralysed for some time) in 1992 and went on to complete a number of challenging land-based expeditions and sea swims to raise funds for charities and other worthy causes.
You can view a video of Anrí’s arriving in Carrickfin Beach below.
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