Show Notes
Endurance Adventurer, Daragh Morgan from Dublin recently completed one of the most extraordinary challenges ever undertaken on Irish shores, a gruelling 1,468 kilometre swim around the entire coastline of Ireland, a dream that took six years from conception to delivery and 338 hours in the water to complete.
Swimming an average of four hours a day, often in harsh, unforgiving conditions, Daragh carved a path through jellyfish, relentless chafing, and the wild moods of the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to complete his 'North Star' Challenge, Swim Éire.
This expedition however was never a solo endeavour. At its heart was a dedicated support crew, led by boat captain Dara Bailey, whose seamanship, insight and unwavering presence kept the ambitious 27 years old swimmer safe and steadily moving forward. Together, their journey became a celebration of community, tradition and the deep cultural ties that connect Ireland's coastal communities to the waters that surround them.
In this episode, Daragh reflects on the physical and mental resilience needed to push through tough conditions, the key moments that shaped the expedition, and the sense of purpose he found in the water. He discusses past endurance challenges that prepared him, the unconventional fuelling strategies that sustained him and the emotional homecoming that closed this monumental chapter.
This is a story of courage, coastline and community and of the magic that unfolds when a daunting, unpredictable idea pulls you far beyond your comfort zone and grows into something far greater than you ever imagined.
More than a tale of endurance, it is a testament to the human spirit and the unshakeable power of self-belief. Swim Éire stands as a bright beacon proving that with vision, determination and teamwork, even the most formidable challenges can be overcome.
More from Tri Talking Sport
Jen Done didn't grow up sporty. She swam a bit as a youngster, tagging along to galas beside a sister who was the 'sporty one of the family' and other than a handful of pre-baby marathons, a life in sport was never really part of her master plan. Seven years ago, after the birth of her daughter, she found herself in a very different kind of race, a race against postnatal depression so severe she could not get out the front door, convinced her husband and daughter would be better off without her. Dismissed as "baby blues" by three separate doctors before a female GP finally gave her the diagnosis and help she needed. Somewhere in the middle of it all, her husband suggested she try running again; she managed 30 seconds out the door and back. It was enough to change everything. That 30 seconds became a habit, and the habit snowballed; an IRONMAN 70.3 in Weymouth, her first full IRONMAN in Hamburg, the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona in 2023 racing with the IRONMAN Foundation. She launched her own podcast, 'The Toughest Finish Line', to share other people's stories of using sport to fight through trauma and mental health struggles and she is also a triathlon coach. A little over three weeks ago, Jen took on her biggest challenge yet: two full IRONMAN races, on consecutive days, in two different countries. IRONMAN Kalmar in Sweden on Saturday and IRONMAN Copenhagen in Denmark 24 hours later. In this episode Jen recalls and shares insight into her Viking IRONMAN adventure, the highs and the lows, the chaos to the calmness, from lost luggage, to the hectic hours before the race weekend even started and the nausea that almost derailed her ambitious racing plans which saw her become an eight time IRONMAN. Jen talks openly about her postnatal depression and the transformational journey she has been on since that 30 second run seven years ago. She reflects on what she's learned about her own capacity to cope, how strong she is and how far removed this version of herself is from the woman who once couldn't leave the house. This is a lovely episode centred on courage, resilience, self-belief and the importance of a loving support crew to help you take one small step at a time, even when that small step seems impossible.
British professional triathlete Harry Palmer recently took the title for the third year in a row at IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea, an accomplishment that is not often achieved in sport.
Aisling Wyer is an Irish triathlete and member of Naas Triathlon Club who has achieved impressive results at home and abroad all whilst working full time as a solicitor.
Endurance adventurer Sean Conway has lived a life defined by adventure, resilience and a relentless desire to do hard things. Driven by curiosity and an appetite for pushing beyond what most consider possible, Sean has built a career out of testing the very edges of human endurance.
Our first guests of 2026 are familiar names in endurance sport here in Ireland; Rob Cummins and Aisling Coppinger who share with us an honest and inspiring conversation about life, love and longevity in sport.