“Just get it done”: Barry Murphy attempts his Third Triple Crown in the open water

Ahead of his swim across the Catalina Channel on 12 September, Irishman Barry Murphy tells Isaac Dubey about the incredible swims that have shaped his life, including “the hardest channel in the world”

On the east coast of Ireland Irish, Barry Murphy swims across the dark turquoise water 20 meters offshore of Seapoint Beach. Murphy, who turns 62 in November, returns to this bay time and time again. Being the accomplished open-water marathon swimmer he is, Seapoint’s humble 400-meter-wide bay is a relief for Murphy compared to the strenuous swims he takes on every year.

Like in 2022, when he decided to take on the North Channel marathon swim seven months after receiving a knee replacement. The North Channel, running from Northern Ireland to Scotland, is infamous for its jellyfish-infested waters, low water temperatures, strong currents and unpredictable weather. Murphy called it “the hardest channel in the world”. He completed the 48km swim in 13 hours and 53 minutes.

An inspiring mantra

Murphy says jellyfish stung him 20 to 30 times and he struggled in the 13°C water. “It’s only one day in your life. You either have done or won’t have done the channel, but tomorrow will always come. So, just get it done,” Murphy said about his mantra in persevering through the pain.

Seapoint is a convenient comfort spot for Murphy; as it’s only a 20-minute car ride from his home in Dublin. This consistent training spot helped Murphy become Ireland’s most accomplished open-water swimmer. He is one of 13 people to complete the three open water swims of the Irish Triple Crown and one of 19 people to complete The Original Triple Crown. Only five people ever have finished both Triple Crowns.

Murphy completed the Irish Triple Crown (consisting of The Fastnet, The Galway Bay and The North Channel swims) and The Original Triple Crown (consisting of The North Channel, the English Channel, and Bristol Channel marathons), but now he is preparing for what he says may be his final swim completing one final feat. He plans to swim the Catalina Channel off the coast of Southern California on September 12. It would award him his third Triple Crown of his open-water swimming career.

Smashing barriers

While completing these arduous swims is remarkable, finishing them at his age, 61, is a historic accomplishment. His name is already in the Guinness World Records book as the oldest Irishman to complete the Original Triple Crown when he finished the Bristol Channel in August 2023 at 60 years and 271 days old. He’s also the oldest Irishman to complete the English and North Channels.

Murphy remarkably has not been swimming his entire life. Born and raised in North Dublin, Murphy was the Underage Irish 100-meter backstroke champion at the age of 12. Murphy’s interest faded at age 16 due to harsh practice hours in high school. He wouldn’t return to swimming until he was 30 years old when his former high school coach established a new Masters team in Dublin. Murphy competed in the European Masters and World Masters with the club. “There was much more of a social aspect to it. [It was] less competitive in a way. I found a love for swimming again,” Murphy said.

Support on the water

While Barry Murphy charges through cold and dangerous waters across Europe, the U.K. and the U.S., his wife Marion, opts to stay dry. She sits aboard the escort boat that monitors, navigates and times Barry and is mandatory for official open-water swim marathons.

Barry and Marion grew up together in north Dublin and have been married for 37 years. She first joined her husband’s oceanic quests when he embarked on his first open-water swim the English Channel. She sat below deck to offer emotional support to him when she could. But as she accompanied Barry on more adventures, she became more involved in logistical planning and ensuring his health and safety.

“Some captains are more worried about the boat than the swimmer. Given the information about the tide and the jellyfish, I know what works,” Marion said. Barry takes breaks every 30 minutes during his marathons to recuperate. Since his records would not be recognized if he boarded or touched the accompanying boat, Marion ropes down a plastic container on these timeouts and supplies him with water, gel shots, and other light snacks.

Murphy has no plans for swims after the Catalina Channel claiming he’s “done.” However, he still aspires to complete all swims in the Oceans Seven marathon and swim the Molokai Channel in Hawaii. When asked if he’d officially call it quits after the Catalina marathon, Murphy said, “I tell all my friends that and they all say ‘Nah’.”