Dolphin Swimming Club - Cork

HISTORY ···

Dolphin Swimming Club was founded in 1901 in the Ballintemple area of Cork by a group of young men, mainly as a summer sport. In 1902 they formed the Dolphin Rugby Club for the winter months to keep up their training, a relationship between the clubs which continues to this day.

The club was very strong in swimming, waterpolo and diving in the early years and it remained a mens only club until 1934 when the first women were allowed into the club. Later years also saw the introduction of lifesaving and teaching of swimming to children. It had its activities going in all Cork pools down through the years where the Eglinton street indoor baths and the Lee baths, a 50m outdoor facility, were where the club was active until 1976 and 1985 respectively. With the provision of new indoor facilities in Cork in the 1970s at Churchfield, Douglas and Mayfield the club relocated its activities to those pools. The Mayfield sports complex is where the current competitive junior and senior squads train daily.

The club produced many Irish champions, Irish record holders, and inter nationals at swimming and waterpolo and is the oldest swimming club in Munster still surviving from the early days. The club has played its part in the administration of the sport at national, provincial and local level in Cork. There were a lot of Dolphin members who achieved honours over the years and who have given great service at International and national level. There have been, and continue to be, many volunteers, many of whom are now former swimmers themselves and with children or grandchildren of their own, who work for the club raising funds, helping run competitions, providing transport and assisting with teaching and coaching. The club had survived to this day because of the great spirit that has always been in the club and the tremendous input of all the members, old and young alike. Testament to this are the number of parents still involved at committee level who no longer have children competing.

In March 2001 to mark the occasion of the clubs milestone the centenary dinner dance was held in the Rochestown Park hotel in Cork with over 300 friends and guests from the world of swimming, waterpolo and lifesaving and included the President of Swim Ireland, President of the Irish Waterpolo Association, President of Dolphin Rugby Cub and the deputy Lord Mayor. Some of those travelled form as far a field as the UK and Canada to be with us. It was a momentous occasion with photos and memorabilia on display from throughout the clubs history and gave old friends a chance to catch up.

In October of 2001 year the club held its centenary open gala at the Mayfield pool form Friday 19th to Sunday 21st, which down through the years has been supported by clubs from all over Ireland and the UK. This marks a very special occasion in the clubs history and we would like to thank all of you who have been a part of this down through the last 100 years.