Bad weather did not halter an attempt at breaking the underwater distance swimming record, when Garda swimmers took to the Irish Sea from Holyhead in Wales to Dun Laoghaire in Dublin.
Ten members of the Garda Sub Aqua Club covered 57 nautical miles in 33 hours swimming in relays. They brought with them a good will message from the Mayor of Holyhead, which they presented to the welcoming committee of the Dun Laoghaire lifeboat and Minister for Sport Sean Barrett. Sponsorship money from the record-breaking swim will go towards a new £20,000 divers' decompression chamber in Dublin.
Other events in Dublin were however affected by the bad weather. The third annual Balrothery Vintage Motorcycle Run had a late start with many motorcycle enthusiasts failing to show up for the event, put off by the rain. Among the bikes which did turn up on the day were a 1912 Rudge and a 1956 BSA Rocket. After the race an auction was held which raised £1,000 for St Michael's House for the mentally handicapped.
An RTÉ News report by Kieron Wood broadcast on 29 June 1986.
