The following is a correct report of a swim successfully accomplished by Miss Mercedes Gleitze on Sunday 8 September 1929, from Maghery to Ardmore Bay, Co. Antrim.

Miss Gleitze entered the water at Maghery Canal at 1.04 a.m. in the presence of a good number of spectators, including also the undersigned. The Lough was calm, but in addition to it being a dark night there was a very dense fog which made conditions very difficult to get clear of Coney Island – outside of which the motorboat White Heather (placed at the disposal of Miss Gleitze by the Antrim Motor Boat Company) was waiting.

Some idea of the difficulty of negotiating this portion of the course can be gathered from the official log which shows that the White Heather was only sighted at 3.40 a.m. although she was only lying scarcely two miles out. It took almost three hours to accomplish this part of the journey, the reason for this being the shore between the canal and the Island is a mass of rocky projections and shallows which, even in day light, it is difficult to get through. It was of course much more difficult owing to the darkness and heavy fog. In fact it was only after a man from another boat had landed on the Island to try to get bearings that it was discovered that the pilot boat had encircled one shallow three different times, with the swimmer following. She complained several (three) times about her ankle striking jagged rocks. However, when the motorboat was reached at 3.35 matters became much easier and a course was then set by compass to N.E.

Two of the Maghery boats still continued to accompany the swimmer and gave every encouragement by singing and making jocular remarks for another mile, when they returned to Maghery after giving Miss Gleitze a real hearty Irish cheer as send off. Miss Gleitze had swum very strongly to this point, doing an average of thirty six strokes per minute. In fact this was her average for practically the whole way. She kept swimming on until daybreak, and with the passing of the darkness the fog also began to lift, a light breeze sprang up which happened to be favourable, and good progress was made – the first indication of life however for some time being the tolling of Lurgan Chapel Bell at 7.30 a.m.

At 9.00 a.m. the breeze had freshened considerably, which made feeding operations a little more awkward, but was otherwise favourable. At the same time it was found the milk had gone sour and the swimmer’s ration had to be reduced, some condensed milk being used.

10.00 a.m. – water became choppy but wind favourable, and by 11.00 a.m. the first blink of sunshine. At 12.00 noon Miss Gleitze complained of the water being cold. The temperature had then fallen to 57 degrees.

It might here be remarked that there is something in connection with the waters of Lough Neagh that does not seem explainable, because although Miss Gleitze was swimming very strongly, very little progress was made from 1.00 p.m. until 3.45 p.m. Whether it be that the different rivers which make up the Lough all join issue at some particular point and race for an outlet through the Bann, or whether it be an undercurrent, or whatever else it may be, there is certainly something which provides a great obstacle to the swimmer, and Miss Gleitze encountered this obstacle on both this and her other swim from Arboe. At any rate the effect on the swimmer seemed to be to render her leg strokes useless, as to all appearance there was no resistance from the water to the leg stroke. In fact the bringing of the leg forward again seemed to create far more resistance and appeared to force the body down. The hands and arms, which of course were operating nearer the surface, seemed to be the sole source of propulsion. However, be that as it may, Miss Gleitze, although swimming very strongly, scarcely accomplished a mile in those three and three-quarter hours.

At two o’clock several fishing and other boats arrived and accompanied and gave every encouragement to the swimmer. In fact Mr D. Breany, having heard that no fresh milk was available, immediately raced ashore with his motorboat and brought a supply. In all there were nine boats from the Tyrone side joined in giving a welcome encouragement to Miss Gleitze. Several photographs of the swimmer and the surrounding boats were taken from the pilot boat.

From four o’clock p.m. very steady progress was made until 7.30 p.m. when another of those mystery spots in the Lough was reached, when, without any apparent reason, the water became choppy – and please remember there was no breeze to cause it – and Miss Gleitze, who was then showing first signs of weariness, was kept struggling against it for three quarters of an hour. She however succeeded, and still doing 34 strokes made gamely for the shore which she reached in the presence of at least 300 people from the surrounding neighbourhood who gave her a most hearty welcome, at 9.05 p.m.

During the route, selections were played by a gramophone kindly provided by Mr McCully, Jeweller & Co., Antrim, and the people who came by boat to witness what is Miss Gleitze’s crowning triumph discoursed a lot of popular songs and otherwise encouraged her.

The foregoing shows that Miss Gleitze was in the water from 1.04 a.m. until 9.05 p.m., and we can bear testimony to the fact that during these 20 hours and one minute she swam absolutely unaided or unprotected in any way whatsoever and reached her destination at Ardmore, where she landed without any assistance. The usual arrangements for feeding the swimmer were carefully carried out.

After landing she was conveyed to an adjoining house where she received treatment, and was afterwards removed by motor with Mr Ashworth to Massereene Arms Hotel where a large crowd welcomed her.

Having read the foregoing report of Miss Gleitze’s swim from Maghery to Ardmore Bay over carefully we the undersigned beg to state that we consider it a truthful and accurate statement as we accompanied her during the entire journey.

Dr T. Marquess who acted in a professional capacity during the entire swim tried to persuade Miss Gleitze to abandon her attempt owing to signs of exhaustion when two miles from shore, but she absolutely refused and afterwards put renewed vigour into her strokes.

Constable Maginnis, R.U.C. Antrim, also accompanied the swimmer the entire way.