Francie swims across Lough Neagh in memory of Orán

Francie from Lurgan, is a champion athlete with champion medals under his belt, but this was a special event in memory of six year old Orán.

Oran passed away after suffering a heart condition and Francie was determined to set a major challenge across the often treacherous Lough Neagh.

He has spent a year planning the swim from the south shore at Oxford Island to Antrim.

Francie, who is Global Swim Series Champion Male Wetsuit 2018 and Male Skins 2019 has spent the last year with his sights on a new challenge.

He said: “In doing so I hopes to raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation to help support families of children with a similar condition through his Just Giving page ‘Lap4Oran’.”

After weather watching for several weeks the swim was good to go. Francie, his pilot Paul Magee of PGM Training and his support crew; Lurgan Masters and Open Water Coach Catherine Hanratty, Maureen McCoy and Paul McCambridge of FLOW Swimming NI and Aimee Dawson of Lurgan Swimming Club gathered at South Shore Marine, Oxford Island.

Once the mist lifted Francie entered the water at Lough Neagh Discovery Centre slipway and at 8:38am.

His route was planned to skirt the shoreline and bays sweeping up past Gawleys Gate then around Rams Island and up into Antrim Bay finishing at Antrim Boat Club more than 30 kilometres away.

With perfect swimming conditions for the first half of the swim Francie made great progress up and past Rams Island. With just over 15km swam the wind began to rise and create waves but Francie, a seasoned open water swimmer kept his focus and continued on with out a word of complaint.

After 11 hours 48 minutes of continuous swimming and a total of 33.5km swam, Francie walked up the beach at Antrim Boat Club to rapturous applause. Aimee Dawson (14), a Lurgan ASC swimmer and acting as his support swimmer, accompanied him for an hour every four hours to alleviate the fatigue and to keep Francie’s spirits high. He bravely swam through rough waters on his final hour swimming and the point when the arduous swim begins to take it’s toll.

Francie would like to especially mention Dean Owen, training partner who himself swam 29km of Lough Neagh in 2013, Boat Pilot Paul Magee of PGM Training, South Shore Marina for supplying the boat and loaning the new Yanmar D Tourque engine and Francie’s wife Noreen, who supported him throughout the arduous training program set by English Channel swimmer Maureen McCoy.

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