‘Seafillies’ complete challenge of swimming at all 98 Blue Flag Beaches
- Pat Nolan
- Oct 30
- 2 min read
Thursday 30 October 2025
After 98 beaches, 4,000 km of coastlines and many swims, close friends Orla Leahy and Biddy Hughes are ready to celebrate a significant milestone
Through the swims, the ‘Seafillies’, as they have called themselves, have raised over €25,000 for the RNLI charity, which will go towards training lifeboat volunteers, equipping them with life-saving gear, and operating the service, allowing them to respond to emergencies and rescue people at sea and on inland waters.
For Orla Leahy and Biddy, the Seafillies was a celebration of connection - to the sea, to the land, and to each other. The duo got to explore Ireland's most pristine swim spots, met fellow sea-lovers and got to deep dive into what makes these communities special.
Orla operates Ireland Chauffeur Travel while Biddy works for Westport Estate and the pair met on a Tourism Ireland trip to the U.S, where the two bonded over their love of Ireland. That’s where the set themselves the challenge of swimming at all 98 blue flag beaches on the Island of Ireland.
Reflecting on their journey, Orla Leahy said: ‘This journey has been inspiring, fun, and unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. What started as a wild idea - to swim at every Blue Flag beach in Ireland became something much deeper. Logistically, it was a huge challenge, but every early start, every long drive, and every cold dip was worth it.’
‘Alongside Biddy, I’ve laughed, learned, and felt more connected than ever to Ireland’s coastline and the people who care for it. It’s been magical from start to finish. The landscapes took our breath away, but it’s the friendships old and new that made it truly special.’
Through the swims, the Seafillies have raised over €25,000 for the RNLI which will go towards training volunteers, equipping them with life-saving gear, and operating the service, allowing them to respond to emergencies and rescue people at sea.
And now that journey has come to an end with the ‘SeaFillies’ completing their last swim in Inchydoney on Monday, (27th of October) where they were joined by many who cheered from the shore and took a dip themselves. The fundraising endeavour finished how it started, in true ‘SeaFillies’ style; with laughter friendship and of course a swim.
