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FORTY FOOT




The forty foot, which is a deep sea water inlet hidden
amidst the rugged rock strewn coast of the enchanting seashore between Sandycove and Bullock harbours just
south of Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, has for at least 250 years
being a place where people come to swim in the Irish sea
all the year round, even in the chilly almost freezing water
of winter.
Because of its relative inaccessibility in pre-modern times
it came to be a particularly favourite place of bathing for
Dublin's small band of naturists to whom the promontory
afforded a high degree of shelter from prying eyes and from
the ladies. 		Click inside this Map for Views of Sandycove and the Fortyfoot. deepwater deepwater sandybeach
An Daicheadú Cos________________________________________
Is mar gheall ar reisimint d'airm sasanach,an 42nd.______
Highland regiment of foot (Black Watch),a bhí í_________
seilbh an trá seo laisteas de bhá Bhaile Átha___________
Cliath ó 1747 a glaoitear é mar sin.____________________
Gentlemen's Swimming Club was establish to conserve and develope this deep
water (not 40foot!) for their use all year round
and at all times independent of tides and it continued
to be their preserve until liberated women plunged in
to its depths with women's liberation back in the seventies.

James Joyce would have enjoyed bathing here as , undoubtedly, did his character the medical student Buck Mulligan afore he set out on his exhaustive walk through Dublin's fair city from theMartello tower built leeward of the inlet as a look-out for ships of the enemy approaching across the water, perhaps,from Howth on the north side of the bay from which many latter day blow-ins come to this sheltered haven.

The forty foot gentlemen's swimming club now welcomes all careful and considerate swimmers irrespective of sex to their club and expect that they make contributions towards the voluntary upkeep of the facility.

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