Jones Engineering Dublin City Liffey Swim 2026

What to Expect

The Jones Engineering Dublin City Liffey Swim is one of Dublin’s most distinctive annual sporting events, bringing competitive open water swimmers to the River Liffey for a 2.2km race through the heart of the city from Rory O’More Bridge near the Guinness Brewery gate to North Wall Quay in the Docklands. The race typically takes place on a Saturday in late August or early September, and draws thousands of spectators to the city’s quays to watch competitors pass under six bridges including the Ha’penny Bridge, the Liffey Pedestrian Bridge and the Samuel Beckett Bridge.

The Liffey Swim has been run since 1920, making it one of the oldest open water swimming events in the world, and its combination of urban setting, competitive intensity and free spectating makes it one of the most unusual sporting occasions in the Irish calendar. Watching swimmers emerge from the water at North Wall Quay after passing through the city is a genuinely memorable sight.

Free to watch from the quaysides along the entire route. The best vantage points are from the quay walls where you can watch the field come through in a sustained flow for twenty to thirty minutes depending on conditions and the spread of the field.

To participate, swimmers must be club-registered and complete qualifying races in the Leinster Open Sea Calendar. The 2026 date will be confirmed closer to the event.

Good to Know

• Free to spectate from the city’s quaysides along the entire 2.2km route

• Starts at Rory O’More Bridge; finishes at North Wall Quay

• Best spectator spots are along the South or North Quays between the start and finish

• Typically held in late August or early September; check Swim Ireland for confirmed 2026 date

• Entry is for qualified competitive swimmers only; open to the public as spectators

Getting There

The race course runs through the centre of Dublin city, making it accessible from any point in the city centre on foot. The start at Rory O’More Bridge is near Heuston Station. The finish at North Wall Quay is adjacent to the Luas Red Line at Spencer Dock and a short walk from the 3Arena. The entire riverside route is walkable, allowing spectators to follow the race on foot.