'Ireland's Fittest Farmer' swimming 230km of Shannon in 7 days
The man crowned 'Ireland's Fittest Farmer' at last year's National Ploughing Championships is currently in the middle of what he has described as a "little 230km swim" along the River Shannon.
Paul Little, who is from a suckler and sheep farming background near Boyle, Co. Roscommon, took to the water last Sunday (August 10) and, all going well, will finish up next Sunday (August 17).
He began the journey in Dowra, Co. Cavan, and he is hoping to finish up at Curraghgour Boat Club in Limerick city.
A Facebook page - Paul's Shannon Swim 2025 - has been set up so that members of the public can be follow Paul's progress. As of this morning (Wednesday, August 13), he had swam some 6km of Lough Ree after setting out at 7:00a.m.
He is aiming to hit Athlone later on today.
The Roscommon Sub Aqua Club, which provides search and rescue assistance to the Civil Defence and Irish Coast Guard, is helping Paul navigate Lough Ree safely.
Paul is also being assisted by family and friends who are travelling by boat and kayaks.
The swim is in aid of North West STOP - Suicide Prevention, which is a community-based, voluntary charity founded in 2004 by families who had lost loved ones to suicide.
Its primary aim is to prevent suicide by providing accessible, free, confidential counselling services.
A fundraising target of €2,500 was set. However, donations have blown past that, with some €7,900 raised so far only half way through the swim.
This means that the donations so far amount to almost 320% of the funding target.
In a video on the Facebook page, Paul said: "Anyone who knows me knows I love a challenge. I have always been very active and I also have a big connection to the water.
"I grew up beside Cavetown Lake where I spent many of my younger days fishing, swimming and kayaking. I met my now wife 14 years ago in Carrick Rowing Club on the Shannon, as well as many other lifelong friends.
"Swimming the Shannon will be a dream come through for me. As well as that, though, I want to raise awareness for mental health and raise as much money as I can for an incredible charity," he added.
"I have teamed up with North West Stop - Suicide Prevention, a charity close to many people's hearts. It is a charity based in the north-west of Ireland that supports anyone who needs it," Paul said.
A link to the fundraising page is available through the Paul's Shannon Swim 2025 Facebook page.
