The Irish Long Distance Swimming Association (ILDSA) was founded in 1966 with the aim of promoting open water swimming.
Honourary Secretary Mr John Moffett organised four events in its first season: since then the association has organised over 300 open water events, providing thousands of swimmers an opportunity to compete at the highest levels.
The ILDSA established development races that would introduce pool swimmers to the outdoor environment. However, the mainstay of the ILDSA calendar were races in Belfast Lough, Dublin Bay, Shannon Esturary, Gaulway Bay, Lough Neagh, Carlingford Lough, and Rathlin Sound. These races served as competition for all and for some, preparation ofr the Blue Ribbon of long distance swimming; the English Channel.
Indeed, many of today's Channel Swimmers test themselves in ILDSA events in Clew Bay, Co. Mayo and annual Championships at Lough Erne before attempting the English Channel. The consistent, high standard of the ILDSA events and its contributions have been internationally recoginsed: the ILDSA was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF), Ford Lauderdale, Florida, USA in 1995.
In addition to promoting races, the ILDSA has sough to set standards to long distance challenges. It provided relay teams that were the first to swim the North Channel and the length of Lough Neagh. The ILDSA has provided observers for North Channel attempts and individual swims in all parts of Ireland.
From the swims of Ray Cossum to Jim Swift, the ILDSA has increased its expertise in long distance swimming. It offers practical opportunities, a support network, and encouragement and recognition to those who accept the challenge of the Channel swimming.
Billy Wallace
Honourary Secretary
ILDSA
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