Dublin City Liffey Swim — 106th Edition

The Dublin City Liffey Swim is Ireland's oldest and most famous open water race — a 2.2km swim through the heart of Dublin, passing under 11 of the city's bridges on the River Liffey. First held in 1920, the 2026 edition marks the 106th running of this historic event. Entry is by qualification only through the Leinster Open Sea calendar, making it one of the hardest open water entries to secure in the country.

The Liffey is a tidal river, and the swim is timed to coincide with the incoming tide to give swimmers an assist. The 2.2km course runs downstream through Dublin city centre — you pass under iconic bridges including O'Connell Bridge, Ha'penny Bridge, and the Samuel Beckett Bridge. The water is murky with zero visibility, so you're navigating entirely by sighting off the bridges and quay walls. Water temperature in September is typically 13–15°C. Wetsuits are permitted but there are separate prize categories. The race is a mass start, which means close-quarters swimming in the opening metres. The atmosphere is unique — crowds line the quay walls and bridges, and it genuinely feels like a city event rather than just a swim race.

You cannot enter the Liffey Swim directly. Qualification is through the Leinster Open Sea race calendar — a series of weekly weekend sea swims around the Leinster coast during summer. Swimmers must complete a set number of qualifying races (typically 3+) and meet the required standards. The Leinster Open Sea calendar is published at leinsteropensea.com. Swim Ireland club or special membership is required for all Leinster Open Sea events.

The start and finish are in Dublin city centre along the River Liffey quays. The exact start point varies year to year but is typically near the Matt Talbot Bridge area. The finish is downstream, usually at the Custom House or George's Dock area. No parking is needed — the venue is Dublin city centre, accessible by DART, Luas, Dublin Bus, and on foot. Spectators can walk along the quay walls following the swimmers.

The Liffey Swim is the flagship event on the Leinster Open Sea calendar. Qualifying races run weekly through the summer at various Leinster coastal venues — the Malahide Friday Night Swim Series (May) is a good early entry point to the open sea scene. The Dun Laoghaire Harbour Swim is the other premium event requiring Leinster Open Sea qualification. For swimmers who want a major Dublin event without the qualification barrier, the Dublin City Triathlon (August) includes an open water swim leg in the Phoenix Park.