Galway

With growing numbers of swimmers braving the cold water of Salthill this Winter, we spoke to Patrick Murphy, a regular at Blackrock, to find out more about what motivates people taking a dip in the Atlantic this time of year. 
Patrick has carried out empirical research on cold-water immersion for his Psychology studies at NUIG, combining it with research papers on Winter swimming, his own personal experience and the experiences of his fellow Salthill swimmers.



How did you become interested in cold-water swimming?
I became interested in cold-water swimming 20 years ago during the winter of 1999 into 2000. I had been swimming during the summer and simply continued. The gradual decrease in temperature was minimal. All of a sudden it was November and I was still going in. After continuing for another few years I moved away from Galway and didn’t return to the winter swimming for over a decade.
 
Can you tell us about your research into cold-water swimming? 
When I returned to college to study Psychology I focused mostly on Paediatrics and Applied Behaviour Studies. One of the really interesting modules was Health Psychology. As part of that, we were given an assignment on behavioural change. 

An individual's behaviour can play an important part in defining their health. The school of psychology tasked us with applying or removing an aspect of their lives in order to create a change for the better.


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Salthill on a cold January 8th morning, before we met Patrick Murphy to take his photo.
 
The assignment was approximately 8 weeks based, in which a behavioural change was created and reflectively monitored. Knowing that the community at the diving boards in Blackrock seemed to contain the elixir of life(!) I decided to continue swimming through the Winter, and with research data, combined our own personal experiences and paired it up with research papers available on the benefits of winter swimming. 


What benefits of cold water swimming did you learn of through your research? 
The primary findings we found based on cold water immersion was the effect that hormones like norepinephrine, adrenaline, cortisol had on the body. Simply put, immersion in cold water allowed for the release of these hormones into the blood, which has the simple effect of calming you down. 

It also applies to taking regular cold showers at home. Some studies show a reduction in inflammation, in pain related to arthritic issues and in the improvement of skin and circulation. 

The psychological effects can range from simply feeling elated after a quick dip to a more long term overall improvement in well-being. More focus is now being applied to the benefits and it seems more people are taking it up. 


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Patrick in for his swim


Any benefits that you found surprising? 
Nothing really surprised me as such. It felt that everything we learned in the studies seemed to match how we felt.


What do you like most about swimming there?
What I love most is the real sense of community and spirit there, or comhluadar (company). That and the fact that when I arrive down sometimes many of the elders would have already been in and changing. I can hear them laughing and having the craic when I arrive. It's like a scene from the movie COCOON!!!!


If you are thinking about trying cold-water swimming please refer to Irish Water Safety guidelines at www.iws.ie and always consult your physician before beginning any exercise program.

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