Club History
History
Dolphin Swimming Club was founded in 1901 in the Ballintemple area of Cork by a group of young men, mainly as a summer sport. In 1902 they formed the Dolphin Rugby Club for the winter months to keep up their training, a relationship between the clubs which continues to this day.
The club was very strong in swimming, water polo and diving in the early years and it remained a mens only club until 1934 when the first women were finally allowed to join up. Later years also saw the introduction of lifesaving and teaching of swimming to children with the latter having grown into Munster most prestigious ‘Learn to Swim Programme’.
Dolphin SC held its activities across the city in all Cork pools down through the years, from the Eglinton Street indoor baths and the Lee baths, a 50m outdoor facility, where the club was active until 1976 and 1985 respectively, and following the provision of new indoor facilities in Cork in the 1970s, at Churchfield, Douglas and Mayfield the club relocated its activities to those pools. At present, Dolphin SC athletes have training facilities in Mayfield Sports Complex, Leisureworld Churchfield & Bishopstown, Brookfield and Coral Leisure in Cobh.
Irish Champions, Irish Record Holders, and Inter Nationals
The Mayfield Sports Complex has been the club’s ‘home pool’ since 1978 and is where the bulk of the weekly training sessions take place for the current competitive junior and senior squads. The club has produced many Irish champions, Irish record holders, and internationals at swimming and water polo and is the oldest swimming club in Munster still surviving from the early days. The club has played a major part in the administration of the sport at a national, provincial and local level in Cork.
There were a lot of Dolphin members who achieved honours over the years and who have given great service at the International and national level. There have been, and continue to be, many volunteers, many of whom are now former swimmers themselves and with children or grandchildren of their own, who work for the club raising funds, helping to run competitions, providing transport and assisting with teaching and coaching. The club has survived to this day because of the great spirit that has always been present in the club and the tremendous input of all the members, old and young alike.
Testament to this is the number of parents who are still involved at the committee level who no longer have children competing.
In March 2001, to mark the occasion of the club’s milestone, the centenary dinner dance was held in the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork with over 300 friends and guests from the world of swimming, water polo and lifesaving in attendance, and included the President of Swim Ireland, President of the Irish Waterpolo Association, President of Dolphin Rugby Cub and the Deputy Lord Mayor.
Many had travelled from as far afield as the UK and Canada to be with us. It was a momentous occasion with photos and memorabilia on display from throughout the club’s illustrious history and gave old friends a chance to catch up.
This year, 2021, the club will celebrate our 120th birthday and we will be organising a number of events to mark this anniversary throughout the year. Hopefully, we will be able to come together at some point and host a gathering where old and present acquaintances can meet and socialise to celebrate together.