The annual Rathmullan New Years swim took place at 12 noon today, with huge crowds turning out to take the plunge to raise funds for the Friends of Ronan Sweeney Rehabilitation Fund.

More people are to take a dip in Fanad at 2pm for the friends of Ronan Sweeney Rehabilitation Fund and the South African Missions (which is under the direction of Sister Margaret Sweeney, Fanad).

After a fall from his bedroom window in Sligo in September, Ronan Sweeney sustained significant spinal injuries.

Although Ronan has made substantial progress in the months following the accident and has been discharged from the National Rehabilitation Hospital to return to his home in Letterkenny, he has been left with limited movement in lower limbs.

The Friends of Ronan Sweeney Rehabilitation Fund is aiming to raise vital resources to allow Ronan to explore spinal rehabilitation facilities, equipment, and mechanisms, to enable to best opportunity for Ronan to make a full recovery.

Three swimmers even had a close call when a “shark” decided to join in on the New Years swim.

To find out more about fundraisers organised by Friends of Ronan Sweeney Rehabilitation Fund you can visit their Facebook page, or if you missed the bucket collections today, you can donate by following this link: https://www.gofundme.com/ronansweeney