Welcome To Our Swimming Club
For over 30 years, the Portmarnock Swim Team has played a central role in the everyday life and ongoing success of the Portmarnock Sports & Leisure Centre.
As a club, we measure success not in medals or short-term wins or losses, but in giving each swim team member the encouragement, support and opportunity to fulfil their unique potential. If a swimmer is willing to put in the work, there is no limit to what they can achieve, whether in the lane or out in the wider world.
We have grown from being a small club serving our local community, under the vision and encouragement of past head coaches Peter O’Brien and Anne Burdis, to a team that regularly sends swimmers to competitions at the inter-club, regional, national, and international levels. our members have also been selected to participate in Swim Ireland performance programmes.
With strong traditions and innovative practices, the Portmarnock Swim Team has grown to become one of the most successful clubs in Ireland. We remain committed to serving our members, their families, and the wider community of Portmarnock in the years to come.
Learn more about how to become a member and our current coaching team.
Club Programme:
The Club Programme is based on the “Long Term Athlete Development” (L.T.A.D.) framework which is about achieving optimal training, competition and recovery throughout an athletes career, particularly in relation to the important growth and development years of young people. The core aim of the L.T.A.D. concept is to ensure that the desire and talent of the swimmer is matched to an appropriate environment whilst this is always a “work in progress”, I believe that Portmarnock Swim Team have achieved this and will continue to do so with the coach-driven, committee-supported programme and supportive, understanding parents. Scientific research has identified that is takes at least 10 years or 10,000 hours for talented athletes to achieve sporting excellence “THERE ARE NO SHORT CUTS”.
Where are we based?
The Swimming Team train in Portmarnock Sports & Leisure Club and we welcome members from all areas, we currently have members from the surrounding areas of Portmarnock, Malahide, Baldoyle, Donaghmede, Raheny, Sutton, Swords & beyond.
What are the criteria to becoming a new member?
Children must be aged over 7 years to apply for membership. Applications will be processed on a date received basis, and applicants added to our waitlist. Waitlists will be reviewed periodically and where space is available children will be called for a trial to assess the most suitable squad for their ability.
All enquiries should be sent by email to portmarnockswimteammembership@gmail.com
What are the squads?
The Club has a squad structure in place that affords swimmers the opportunity to develop technique, skills, endurance and speed which is necessary for competitive swimming. There is continual assessment of swimmers within the squads and as they progress & if they so wish, swimmers will be entered into competitions suitable to their ability, at the discretion of the coach. They will progress through the squad’s at the discretion of the coaches with equal opportunity for all swimmers regardless of age. Progression is based on attendance, ability to train & commitment to training.