‘Fabulous. Unbelievable.’ Derek Wilkes Wins Liffey Swim 36 Years After First Win in 1989; Ocean Breakers Liz Keary Wins Women’s Race
Derek ‘Bimbo’ Wilkes of North Dublin Swimming and Water Polo Club and Liz Keary of Ocean Breakers Swim Club have won today’s races at the 105th Dublin City Liffey Swim; over 320 swimmers completed the historic swim hosted by Swim Ireland and Dublin City Council.
Today’s race provided an unforgettable experience for Wilkes, who first won the Liffey Swim in 1989. Thirty-six years on from that swim, at 71-years-of age, and competing in his 55th Liffey Swim, the Dubliner lifted the Liffey Cup once again.
A delighted Wilkes spoke after the race ‘Fabulous. Unbelievable. And my family, the two lads, we’ve been at the race since they were children, and when I started, I was really a child as well. I’m over the moon, over the moon.’
On his 55th Liffey Swim he added ‘Yeah, fabulous. Unbelievable I didn’t think I could do it, it’s unbelievable.
On the race he said ‘I just kept saying, stroke, stroke, stroke and that’s what I did. And just hope that I wouldn’t blow up, and I did kind of blow up when I got towards the end, I just kept saying, please go, please go. I was blessed.’
Ocean Breakers Masters Liz Keary (52) was the first woman home in a brilliant swim. Keary was close to the front throughout the race and took the lead over the last two bridges coming home in 41 minutes and five seconds.
A delighted Keary said ‘I’m feeling just elated, overjoyed, can’t believe it. It’s kind of like something I’ve watched for many years, and to be up here winning it now is just a moment that I never dreamed of.’
On her team Ocean Breakers she added ‘We’re quite a small club, but we’re really, really close, most supportive bunch of girls and guys that you could ever wish to swim with. So, it’s not just me. It’s all the hard work that we put in together. So, it’s a prize for all of us.’
On the race she said ‘I kind of got a bit of a sense that I was close enough to the top. I hadn’t seen too many pass me and couldn’t see too many people around me, but I still wasn’t sure. So, I just kind of put the head down. I could see one other lady close by, so I just put the head down towards the end.’
2024 Liffey Swim winner Jessica Purcell of Aer Lingus had the fastest women’s time on Saturday finishing in 25.11 while Limerick’s Adam Foley was the fastest male in 24.29.
The Women’s team prize went to the NAC Masters quartet of Mairead Creedon, Siobhan O’Brien, Justine Gardner and Jennifer Stopford, with Templeogue’s Paul Dawson, Jor Durkan, Jacob McKenna and William Mullen taking the Men’s Prize.
Guillaume Tanton (31.02) of NAC Masters and Ciara Breslin (32.01) of Half Moon were the first male and female swimmers’ home in wetsuits, while Aidan Walshe was the overseas winner in 29.99.
Swim Ireland CEO Sarah Keane, who took part in the race herself, spoke afterwards ‘We’ve had yet another wonderful day of our community coming together. We could not have delivered today’s race without the amazing support of Dublin City Council, our volunteers and partners, it was a real team effort. Congratulations to Derek and Liz and all those who competed, we look forward to seeing everyone again next year.’
Swim Ireland would like to thank all who helped make the day possible, swimmers, volunteers, spectators and Deputy Lord Mayor John Stephens, Dublin City Council, Dublin Fire Brigade, Dublin Civil Defence, Aqualine, City Kayakers, Malahide Kayak Club.
105th Dublin City Liffey Swim Results
Women:
1st Liz Keary, Ocean Breakers, 41.05
2nd Ciara Doyle, Templeogue, 41.09
3rd Monica Devine, Ocean Breakers, 41.20
Fastest Time Jessica Purcell, Aer Lingus SC, 25.11
Team Prize: NAC Masters (Mairead Creedon, Siobhan O’Brien, Justine Gardner, Jennifer Stopford)
Wetsuit Prize: Ciara Breslin, Half Moon SC, 32.01
Men:
1st Derek ‘Bimbo’ Wilkes, North Dublin SWPC, 36.45
2nd Keith Clarges, Tallaght Masters SC, 36.51
3rd Eamon Bermingham, Guinness SC, 37.06
Fastest Time: Adam Foley, Limerick SC, 24.29
Team Prize: Templeogue (Paul Dawson, Jor Durkan, Jacob McKenna, William Mullen)
Wetsuit Prize: Guillaume Tanton, NAC Masters, 31.02
Overseas Winner: Aidan Walshe, 29.99
Provisional Results: 105th Dublin City Liffey Swim 2025, 13/09/2025 : : my.race|result
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