An 81-year-old man from Árainn Mhór off the coast of Donegal who completed a circuit of Ireland last winter swimming at beaches and piers around the coast is now planning to do the same again - only going in the opposite direction!
Paddy Conaghan attracted a huge following and raised over €112,000 for Gemma's Legacy of Hope, a Donegal charity offering counselling services, over the course of the ten week challenge.
He left Árainn Mhór in December last year and returned to a hero's welcome on 12 February having completed over 300 swims, an average of four a day but one day he did 12.
Paddy's goal was to promote positive health and his journey around Ireland in an old van proved to be an inspiration - he attracted followers and donations from across Ireland and the world.
People joined him to swim wherever he went and he made many new friends and met some old ones too.
The committee involved in Gemma's Legacy of Hope say the money raised will support the charity for two years and help over 300 people and they will be forever grateful for what this "inspirational" man has done to help the cause.
Today, Paddy began his renewed challenge, with series of swims at piers and beaches in Árainn Mhór, before setting off from the island to do a clockwise circuit of the Irish coast, swimming at as many piers, jetties and beaches as he can.
He will live out of a van provided by Seamus and Louise Boyle, who run the Blue Ferry from the island.
This time it's been kitted out with a bed and a heater.
Discussing his updated challenge, Paddy said: "After I finished the journey I was thinking about all the people I met and how good they were to me and I wished I could do something for them."
Like last time, he plans to spend Christmas wherever he happens to be.
In January, he plans to mark his 82nd birthday with a celebratory swim.
