While Americans have their Alcatraz Island in San Francisco, Irish swimmers have Spike Island (Irish: Inis Píc) in Cobh Harbour, Ireland. Both once well-guarded prisons with infamous inmates, the sites are now also known for challenging cold-water swims with tricky currents where convicts have given way to open water traditionalists and wetsuit-clad swimmers.

Markus Rössel, a Daily News correspondent, reported on the recent Escape from Spike Island, a 2K swim between the mainland and the island. “It was glorious weather and an even better swim,” said Niall O Crualaoich.

Ellen O’Brien won the non-wetsuit division in 26:13 while Brian O’Shea won the wetsuit division in 24:34.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven Munatones