Swimming Lessons In Killaloe, Co. Clare, Ireland 1971

In Killaloe, County Clare an alternative method of swimming instruction has had a high success rate.
Killaloe County Clare is situated on the banks of the river Shannon. At Pier Head, large numbers of children from Killaloe and adjoining Ballina gather regularly for swimming lessons, under the tutelage of Peter Lacy.
Thanks to this volunteer swimming instructor, a painter and decorator by trade, over one hundred children can now swim with confidence and enjoy the water. It is never a case of throwing them in at the deep end, as all beginners learn safely with the assistance of a rope harness.
This popular pastime is facilitated by a man who admits that his teaching is based purely on theory
I don’t swim at all.
In the absence of a community swimming pool, Peter Lacy decided some years back to organise swimming lessons in the river Shannon himself. A founder member of local swimming club Saint Lua’s, he was given good advice from a seasoned swimmer,
I was told by an experienced gentleman that if I gave them the leg kick and the arm movement...I was away with it.
Proof that lessons given by Peter Lacy work can be seen by the number of young people happily splashing around in the Shannon.
All the town children can swim.
A ‘Newsbeat’ report broadcast on 27 May 1971. The reporter is Cathal O’Shannon.