A Neighbourly Swim to Do

Amid Olympic doping scandals and feverish speculation about overpaid and oversexed Premiership soccer stars, one Irish athlete is in training for a historic feat to raise money for Dublin's homeless people.

Later this month, Feilim O'Maolain aims to become the first man to swim non-stop across the Irish Sea.

The 44-year-old amateur swimmer isn't just interested in winning a place in the record books; he is crossing the dangerous sea route to help feed homeless men, women and children in the Irish capital.

O'Maolain and his team intend to take to the water at Holyhead in north Wales on 26 or 27 August, depending on the weather. Their goal is to reach Dublin Bay some 40 hours later after a gruelling, non-stop 56-mile swim.

'It's a bit like climbing Mount Everest. I'm doing it because it's there,' said O'Maolain in a break from training near Dun Laoghaire. 'More importantly I'm also doing it for a homeless hostel beside where I live.'

The 36ft Festina Lente, the boat accompanying O'Maolain, will be captained by marine navigation lecturer David Gerrard, of Dun Laoghaire, and his crew of six, who are giving up their free time.

Asked what friends and family thought of him taking on the perilous challenge of cold, exhaustion, cramp and jellyfish, the veteran amateur swimmer said: 'Some just say they think I'm mad, but others don't say anything at all.'

O'Maolain is no stranger to the stretch of water between the Anglesey coastline and Dublin Bay. He was part of a six-man relay team which crossed the route 11 years ago on their second attempt. 'I know the dangers out there. It can be a rough crossing, but I'm mentally and physically prepared for the task,' he said.

Apart from the English Channel, O'Maolain has also swam the 11-hour Atlantic crossing from the Aran Islands to Galway. He hopes that success in the Irish Sea will encourage more young Irish people to take up the sport. A swimmer for almost 40 years, O'Maolain has been preparing for the Irish Sea attempt since 2002.

The hostel neighbouring O'Maolain's Dublin home is run by the Cappucins, a Franciscan order dedicated to working for the poor.

At the Cappucin Centre in Bow Street, close to Dublin's Four Courts, Brother Kevin Crowley described the swimmer as 'a very modest man who would never consider he was doing anything heroic'.

The centre feeds 300 homeless men, women and children every day as well as sending out 150 food parcels to other people living on Dublin's streets.

'We get €180,000 from the government and need about another €180,000 again per annum to keep going,' said Brother Crowley. 'Many of the dozen or so children who come for their meals live in bed and breakfast accommodation which they have to leave during the day. In these times it's really nice to see an athlete putting in his time and effort to help others. What Feilim is doing is in the true spirit of St Francis.'

Asked why so many Irish swimmers are attempting to cross hazardous and gruelling sea lanes around the world, O'Maolain said: 'We Irish are well used to the cold water given our weather. We're bred for these kind of conditions.

· Donations for the swim can be sent via the Cappucin Centre, Bow Street, Dublin 7. O'Maolain can be contacted at stopwatch@eircom.net