View source for Swim Ireland

{{short description|Governing body for swimming, diving, water polo and synchronised swimming on the island of Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox swimming association
| name = Swim Ireland
| Logo = Swim Ireland logo (2017).svg
| Badge_size = 300px
| Founded = 1998
| FINA affiliation = 1998
| Region affiliation = [[Ligue Européenne de Natation|LEN]]
| Website = {{url|http://www.swimireland.ie}}
| President = 
}}
[[File:Swim Ireland old logo.svg|thumb|Swim Ireland previous logo]]
'''Swim Ireland''' is the national governing body of [[swimming (sport)|swimming]], [[diving (sport)|diving]], [[water polo]], [[open water swimming]] and [[synchronised swimming]] in the island of [[Ireland]] ([[Republic of Ireland]] and [[Northern Ireland]]). Competitors from Northern Ireland can opt to compete for [[British Swimming]] in international competitions, with the exception of the [[Commonwealth Games]] where they can compete for Northern Ireland.

Swim Ireland is affiliated with [[Ligue Européenne de Natation|LEN]], [[International Swimming Federation|FINA]] and the [[Olympic Council of Ireland]].<ref>[http://www.swimireland.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19&Itemid=29 Who is Swim Ireland?] from the Swim Ireland website (www.swimireland.ie); retrieved 2010-07-13.</ref>

== History ==
Swim Ireland emerged in 1998 from the [[Irish Amateur Swimming Association]] (IASA), that was dissolved in January 1999 following proven sexual abuse and other scandals involving senior coaches.<ref>McCarthy, Justine, Deep Deception, Ireland's Swimming Scandals, O'Brien Press, 2009</ref> Swim Ireland assumed IASA abuse victim liabilities.<ref>Watterson, Johnny, 'Swim Ireland not bankrupt', Irish Times, 11 February 2008</ref>

== Domestic competitions ==
Swim Ireland runs national meets which include:
*Dave McCullagh Memorial (March/April)
*Irish Open Championships (April/May)
*Irish Age Groups Division 2 (June)
*Irish Age Group/Youth Championships (July)
*[[Irish Open SC Championships]] (July/August)
*Irish Open Diving Championships (November)
*Irish Age Groups Division 1
Swim Ireland works with the different regions in organising competitions such as provincial Age Group Championships as well as other graded, distance and inter-club meets. They also work with the Irish Schools Swimming Association who run the Irish Minor and Secondary Schools Championships.

The Age Group InterProvincial takes place every year at the beginning of the summer months for swimmers up to the age of 16 years.  This is where teams from the 4 provinces of Ireland (Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht) compete against each other.

These competitions take place in either the [[National Aquatic Centre]], Dublin or at University Arena, Limerick.  Both pools have the compatibility to be changed into 50m and 25m.

In 2003, Swim Ireland hosted the European Short Course Championships at the [[National Aquatic Centre]] in Dublin. The event was a resounding success with a world record being broken by the Dutch in the final race, the men's 4x50m Freestyle relay.

Swim Ireland also organise [[The Liffey Swim]] which takes place in August to September annually.

== Irish swimmers ==
Swim Ireland recently introduced a new squad structure.  This begins with Club Level, then Regional Level, National Level and finally the Elite Squad.

==See also==
*[[List of Olympic-size swimming pools in Ireland]]
*[[Sport in Ireland]]
*[[Eddie Heron]]
*[[Ger Doyle]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* {{official website|http://www.swimireland.ie/}}
* [http://www.awaycity.com/wiki/Dublin/Swimming Map of the swimming pool in Dublin]

{{Sports governing bodies in Ireland}}
{{National Members of FINA}}

[[Category:1998 establishments in Ireland]]
[[Category:National members of European Aquatics|Ireland]]
[[Category:All-island sports governing bodies in Ireland|Swimming]]
[[Category:Swimming in Ireland]]