62 year-old man raises thousands in record-breaking River Shannon swim

62 year-old swimmer Dermot Higgins has become both the fastest and oldest person to complete a swim along the entire length of the River Shannon.

The swimmer from Skerries tackled the extraordinary challenge in just 10 days, having swam from the source of the Shannon in County Cavan to the mouth of sea in Limerick.

Dermot was supported in the water by Brian Dillon from Limerick Narwhales Swimming Club, and finished the epic swim at the Curraghgour Boat Club.

Starting on September 12, Dermot covered over 350km of swimming in a record breaking ten days, four less than the 2023 fastest record holder, Ger Moore from Cork.

Dermot completed the swim for charity, raising thousands of euro for Pieta, a charity dedicated to supporting those affected by suicide and self-harm.

Dermot has already raised over €250,000 for charity and is a long-time supporter of Pieta, having faced his own struggles with suicidal feelings. He previously completed a 24-hour swim for Pieta and released a book, He Who Swears at Bears, detailing his record-breaking attempt at kayaking the Yukon River.

This challenge held special significance for Dermot, as the retired teacher and principal has battled depression three times, the most severe episode occurring during the Covid pandemic, when he was hospitalized and attempted suicide. After retiring in 2017, he turned to extreme outdoor challenges to improve his physical and mental well-being.

“I’m physically strong, but I’ve struggled with my mental health,” Dermot said ahead of the swim. "As a suicide survivor, I know all too well the importance of the resilience training which this amazing charity promotes."

Dermot's previous exploits include becoming the oldest person to cycle around the world, paddling the Shannon in just three days, and surviving a bear attack while paddling the Yukon River from source to sea.

Last year, he also became the first Irish person to swim non-stop for 24 hours. Now, he’s returning to the Shannon, having been forced to cancel his first attempt in 2022 due to a serious injury.