Open water swimming has been on the rise since the Covid Pandemic.
Up to 100 locals from Virginia take part on a regular basis at Lough Ramor.
Roisin McDaid had the idea to set up Ramor Swimming Group and it certainly has gone from stroke to stroke and has only gone in one direction.
She says the group has grown from herself to 96 in the space of two years.
Roisin says the group caters for young splashers to older dippers, and everyone in between, from 15 years of age to 71 years of age.
Regular swimmer Jim McDevitt says it’s a way to escape and to find peace in the chaos. He added that overall it is great for general fitness and mental well-being,
Mairead Smyth, who is also a clinical neuropsychologist and regular swimmer all year round, says open water swimming triggers a flood of endorphins and dopamine, which significantly improves mood and helps manage symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Ronan Gargan went along to meet a number of swimmers from Ramor Swimming Group on Sunday morning to find out more about why cold water swimming is proving very popular in Virginia.
*The Wider View outside broadcast is funded by the News Reporting Scheme*
