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family · Monday 29 June 2026 · Various 
Keeldra Water Safety - Swim and Safety Weeks 2026
At Leitrim Water Safety Locations · County Leitrim
At Leitrim Water Safety Locations · County Leitrim
Every summer, families across Leitrim bring their children to Keeldra Lough for two weeks of swimming and water safety tuition that goes well beyond a basic splash around. Run by the Leitrim Water Safety Committee, this is a structured, progressive programme that takes children from first strokes to genuine competence in open water - the kind of confidence that stays with them for life. With sessions from late June through to mid-July, it fits naturally into the school holidays and draws families from across the county year on year.
Classes are organised by level rather than age, so each child works at the right pace. The Seal classes (1, 2 and 3) cover front and back swimming, float technique, and breaststroke basics, moving through the grades in sequence. The Marlin level builds on that foundation for more capable swimmers. Lifesaving and Safety and Rescue courses run alongside for older or more advanced participants, and from 2025 onward these are mandatory across two full weeks - the committee made the decision that a single week simply is not long enough to embed the skills properly.
Sessions run at 10am and 2pm, last around 25 minutes each, and are led by qualified Water Safety Ireland instructors. Parents are asked to stay on site and remain responsible for their children between sessions - the grassy picnic area beside the lake makes that a pleasant wait rather than a chore. Keeldra Lough itself is one of the few properly developed freshwater swimming spots in Leitrim: a concrete walkway marks out a sheltered enclosure with sandy underfoot, indoor changing facilities, and maintained toilets on site.
Prices start from €50. Early booking through Eventbrite is strongly recommended as places fill up fast, particularly at popular session times.
Keeldra Lough sits near Mohill in south Leitrim, reached via the R201 and the L1566 local road. Mohill is about 20 km south of Carrick-on-Shannon, the county town, which is on the main N4 Dublin to Sligo road. From Dublin, allow around two hours. Bus Eireann serves Carrick-on-Shannon from Dublin (route 23), but the lough itself requires a car - there is no regular local bus to Mohill. Parking is available at the site.
Mohill is a quiet market town with a few good local cafes, and the wider county is laced with lakes and river walks worth exploring after the morning session wraps up. There is more to see in Leitrim and across Co. Leitrim.
Heading to Leitrim Water Safety Locations in Leitrim? Leitrim has plenty more to see. Read the Leitrim area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.