Gaelforce Great River Swim Festival gets underway this weekend in Lanesborough/Ballyleague

Open-water swimming, riverside adventure, and family fun 

Press Release: Wednesday, 14 May 2025 

An unforgettable weekend of open-water swimming, riverside adventure, and family fun is set to take place in the Lanesborough/Ballyleague area when the Gaelforce Great River Swim Festival gets underway from Friday, 16 May to Saturday, 17 May.

This sporting event which sees 'Gaelforce Powered by Killary' returning to Lanesborough for its third year, is a celebration of open water swimming in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands at the scenic River Shannon. The festival is funded by Fáilte Ireland with support from Longford County Council and Roscommon County Council. The event is also powered by the fantastic voluntary community committees and organisations in Lanesborough and Ballyleague. 

The event promises to be a fantastic family-friendly day out with community groups, sporting organisations and local crafters, artisan providers and businesses all joining forces to build a great offering around this exciting sporting event. 

The opening night on Friday, 16 May features evening Kayaking adventures at 6:30pm and 9pm as well as riverside sauna sessions with 30 minute slots available from 6:30pm to 9pm. Live music will take place at Faithleach's from 9pm on Friday with Irish folk and traditional music performed by local talent at the clubhouse. Camping and parking facilities are available at St Faithleach's GAA grounds with shower and campervan parking also available.

Saturday, 17 May is festival day with Gaelforce Great River Swim starting at 8am from Tarmonbarry. The swim finishes at Lanesborough with the first swimmers expected from around 9.40am. For the Gaelforce Great River Swim there will be four distances of 12km, 5.8km, 3.5km and 800m. A prize giving ceremony will take place after the event with live music at the finish line with 'The Amazing Apples.'

Festival day will also see artisan stalls open from 10am with local crafts and produce as well as a range of family fun day activities starting from 11am with face painting, a climbing wall, and trampolines, as well as funfair games and activities. Riverside sauna sessions continue from 10.30am to 4pm on Saturday while the day concludes with food and music with a BBQ at Clarkes's bar and lounge from 6pm. 

For a full programme and bookings please see: https://gaelforceevents.com/en/gaelforce-great-river-swim. 

Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon said: "Now in its third year The Gaelforce Great River Swim is one of the highlights of the sporting calendar in County Longford. I want to welcome all Gaelforce competitors to the area for the weekend and extend best wishes to the community and race planners who are working hard to create this fantastic offering. Longford County Council is proud to support this festival."

Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Mark Casey said, "Whether you're racing, cheering, or soaking up the atmosphere, the Gaelforce Great River Swim Festival in Lanesborough and Ballyleague is a weekend not to be missed. As a Lanesborough man I am proud to see this event becoming firmly established and it promises to be a fantastic family day out."