Laois woman to swim dangerous US waters for Mountmellick charity

A Laois native living in the UK is preparing to swim two short but dangerous stretches of USA oceans in aid of a local charity, and in memory of her mother.

This September, Joan Fennelly from Mountmellick will take on the treacherous 3 mile crossing between Alcatraz Island to San Francisco on the US west coast in the North Pacific.

Then she flies across to the East coast, to attempt the busy 2.5 mile stretch between Liberty Island, home to the Statue of Liberty, and New York City, in the Atlantic Ocean.

She may encounter sharks, sea lice, jellyfish, ships, high waves and strong currents but Joan is undaunted and looking forward to her personal challenges.

Her quest is all in honour of her late mother, Marie, who died last December. She hopes to raise at least €5,000 for the Holy Family Conference of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, which helps people in financial distress in Mountmellick, Rosenallis and Clonaghadoo.

“Mum was a dedicated conference member for over 50 years. Now I want to give back to the townsfolk of Mountmellick,” Joan told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

Joan Fennelly (back centre) with members of the Holy Family Conference of the Society of St Vincent de Paul. Left: John McEvoy, Bobby Delaney, Margaret Joyce, Kathleen Dempsey, Molly Dalton, Olive Kelly and chair John Reddin.

“She was always keenly focused on my swims and the media reaction, we used to call her the ‘googling granny’, she was adept on the iPad. She couldn’t swim, but I know she’ll be there with me in spirit,” Joan said of her late mother.

Aged 58, she says it may be her last big swimming fundraiser since she first plunged into the world of open water distance swimming eight years ago.

“Never say never but Mountmellick has been very benevolent over the years to support my different challenges,” she said.

She has chosen the two US locations for personal reasons, with family connections to California.

“The US and New York have a special place in my heart. My mam was born to two Irish emigrants who met there," she said.

The software sales executive who lives in Oxfordshire in the UK, visited Mountmellick to launch her quest.

There is a donation page set up on the SVP website.

“I have a target of €5,000. I know there’s a cost of living crisis and fundraising is harder, but we hope to reach it and if it goes beyond, we’ll increase the target,” Joan said.

The New York swim will be part of a mass event, but the Alcatraz is a solo run, which Joan prefers.

“New York will be a bit of a stampede. I’ve chartered a boat and crew for Alcatraz who will be focused solely on getting me there safely,” she said.

Joan with her late mother Marie proudly holding her certificate of achievement for a Henley Mermaids relay swim.

Her training is done in the River Thames, swimming at dawn up to five times a week, from one to four miles at a time. Joan is also taking on some coaching, light weight training, focusing on nutrition, rest and sourcing the right kit.

“The river is lovely and quiet in the early morning, it’s so peaceful, but I’ll be going to the sea to get choppy water experience too, and training for both endurance and speed. I’ll be wearing a high neck cossie to keep out the jellyfish,” she said.

One of the five strong Henley Mermaids relay team, with them she has already swum the English Channel, Bristol Channel, North Channel, Thames from source to Henley, Thames Marathon swim, Loch Ness, as well as a Robben Island solo swim.

They have raised over £110,000 ( €130,600) for charities including Sue Ryder, several brain condition charities and Surfers Against Sewage.

Joan recalls those ventures.

“My proudest moment would have to be the English Channel to France, we were complete wet behind the ears. We had trained in the Thames all summer but we were in the dark, pitch dark. We started at a quarter to midnight. It was like being in a washing machine with the lights off. It was a crossing of 21 miles but we swam 45 because the currents pushed us off course. I was last in the relay to swim and I gave it everything, I couldn’t walk for two days afterwards. 

“The coldest was Lough Ness. It was beautiful, peaty water like the Catholes. 

“The only place I had to be rescued from the water was Killary Fjord in Mayo. There was torrential rain and hail. The temperature was sub 10 degrees. At the mid point we were not going fast enough so they hauled us out,” Joan recalls. 

She launched the fundraiser on Friday evening, July 19 in Wolfetone Court community centre, giving a presentation to the members of the local SVP, Mountmellick Yarnbombers, PP Fr Michael Murphy, Portlaoise SVP chair Billy Fitzpatrick, and others. Also attending were Joan’s partner Martin Knowles, her brother Fran and his wife Cathy Fennelly.

Cathy and Fran Fennelly with Joan Fennelly and Martin Knowles at the launch of Joan's US swim fundraiser.

John Reddin, president of the Holy Family SVP, told her they were very honoured and wished her luck.

“I hope you do raise a considerable amount and the people of Mountmellick will benefit,” he said.

He told the Leinster Express / Laois Live what the funds will be used for.

“There are different issues in our area. The economy is moving with high employment but people are still struggling. They are left behind perhaps due to their mental health and not being able to function in a job. A lot are single parents. It is sad to see such poverty in our local town.

Joan with two members of Mountmellick Yarnbombing at her fundraiser launch: Trish Kelley and Sheila Bracken.

“Our job is not just to help them financially but to give guidance, liaising with the community welfare officer and the Money Advice & Budgeting Service (MABS).

“Everything we do is in the strictest of confidence. We visit and interview new clients and we are careful to ensure they need genuine help, because we are spending money that local people have donated to us. We also support people struggling with education costs, like mature students who are trying to better themselves,” Mr Reddin said.

The SVP Holy Family conference for the Mountmellick area can be contacted on 086 4003469.

Find the fundraiser here.