Here’s a curious one that recently came our way: Red Bridge Jetty in County Longford. It’s not an official swimming spot, and to be honest, we’re still not entirely sure whether it’s permitted—but it’s clearly used by swimmers, including our contributor Valerie, who’s been there more than once.

Located on the Owenacharra River in Longford,

Valerie describes it as a peaceful, quiet stretch of river, with a jetty that naturally invites a bit of a plunge. When she was last there, she didn’t notice any signs prohibiting swimming—and in fact, saw others in the water. She’s dipped in herself and thought it might be worth sharing, as Longford isn’t exactly brimming with well-known wild swim spots.

Caution ⚠️

That said, when we looked it up on Google Maps, we did spot a “No Swimming” sign near the jetty. We’re not sure how up-to-date or official that signage is, and neither is Valerie. So at this point, we’d class Red Bridge Jetty as a maybe—a location that people clearly do swim in, but where it’s worth exercising a bit of extra caution.

If you’re in the area and thinking of checking it out, we recommend doing a proper recce first. Look out for any local signage or notices, assess the water conditions carefully, and—if in doubt—err on the side of caution. As always, avoid swimming alone, and make sure someone knows where you’re going.

Do you have more details or photos?

And if you know more about this spot—whether it’s safe, officially sanctioned, or best avoided—please get in touch. We’d love to hear from locals or regulars who can help shed more light on Red Bridge Jetty. Every bit of knowledge helps make wild swimming safer and more enjoyable for all.

Let me know if you’d like a short summary or map snippet to include at the end!