Tributes have been paid to an Árainn Mhór man whose charitable swimming accolades garnered global recognition.
Paddy Conaghan, a former winner of the World Open Water Swimming Association Man of the Year Award in San Francisco in 2023, has died aged 85.
He won the global award after his round-Ireland challenge, which he completed aged 81.
He swam at as many piers and beaches as possible as he drove around the Irish coast, starting in December 2021 and finishing in February 2022.
He left Árainn Mhór in December 2021 to raise funds for Gemma's Legacy of Hope, raising more than €100,000.
Paddy Conaghan did a circuit of the coastline in his van, swimming an average of four times a day, but some days taking many more plunges.
The following year, he carried out the same challenge, travelling clockwise around Ireland rather than anticlockwise, fundraising for various causes.
He also fundraised for the Irish Motor Neurone’s Disease Association, where he dipped in a lake in every county, then onto waterfalls, fundraising for liquid therapy and his last challenge saw him travel the beaches of Wales, fundraising for Marie Curie.
Along the way, people joined Mr Conaghan on his daily dips and followed his adventures on his social media accounts.
He started the various challenges following the death of his daughter Angela Evans in 2020.
Mr Conaghan spent his working life as a "tunnel tiger" working in tunnels in Thailand, Hong Kong, Denmark, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and other places from Lands’ End to John O’ Groats.
After he completed his 2022 challenge, he encouraged other older people to get active and make the most of life.
He suggested that anyone who is "just doing nothing - waiting for old age to catch up with them" just start doing something like sea swimming because you will feel good after it.
In a statement, Gemma’s Legacy of Hope described Mr Conaghan as "a kind, caring and sincere man" who was an inspiration to all.
They said his adventures ducking and diving around Ireland funded its counselling service for two years, in turn helping many people to get the help they need.
Gemma's Legacy of Hope said a guard of honour will be held for Mr Conaghan at Ailt an Chorráin harbour tomorrow afternoon, as he sails to Árainn Mhór for the last time.
Mr Conaghan’s funeral will take place this Thursday.
