Alexandra Heminsley thought she could swim.

As she learned one day while flailing around in the sea however, she really couldn’t.

Believing that a life lived fully is one experienced to the fullest, she decided to conquer her fear of wild swimming.

She charted her experience in her brilliant book Leap In – A Woman, Some Waves and the Will to Swim.

Now the journalist, broadcaster and author is hoping to entice more would-be swimmers into the water as part of the Cork Literary Festival.

Not only will Heminsley be hosting a ‘Coffee and Chat’ event at 10am in Bantry House Tearoom on Wednesday, July 18th (entry €10), she’ll also be leading the way into the sea afterwards at Abbey Strand with a Free Festival Swim at 11.30am.

As Alexandra learned ‘the water is never as frightening once you’re in, and really, everything is better when you remember to exhale’.

Bring your swimsuit, your towel and your sense of fun.