On 12 September 2026, swimmers will take to the water for Gaelforce Great Fjord Swim in the Killary Fjord.
The event has four distances: 750m, 2km, 3.9km and 8km, giving swimmers the chance to take on the fjord at a distance that suits them. But whatever distance you choose, Killary is a big part of what makes this swim what it is.
That’s also why we wanted the prizes for the top of the field to have a connection to the place where the race takes place.
For this year’s event, we’ve teamed up with Outcrop, a Sligo-based company that creates handcrafted 3D maps of landscapes across Ireland and beyond.
The overall winner and overall non-wetsuit winner for each distance of Gaelforce Great Fjord Swim will each receive a 3D map of Killary Fjord, made by Outcrop.
Stretching for around 16 kilometres between Galway and Mayo, Killary is one of Ireland’s most distinctive coastal landscapes. Surrounded by the mountains and valleys of Connemara, it’s a spectacular place to swim and a challenging one too.
For us, the landscape is a huge part of the Gaelforce experience. You’re not swimming in an ordinary pool or a stretch of open water with nothing around you. You’re surrounded by the mountains, looking along the length of the fjord, with the landscape changing as you make your way through the course.
It’s one of those places that stays with you after you’ve left.
And that’s what made the idea of a Killary Fjord map such a good fit.
Outcrop was founded by Maeve and Aran Pudney, a husband-and-wife team based in Sligo. They design and make their maps themselves, using detailed topographical data to recreate landscapes as physical 3D pieces.
Their connection to the coast is also a big part of what they do. Maeve grew up in Sligo, while Aran grew up in New Zealand, and both have a strong connection to coastal landscapes.
When we first saw their work, a map of Killary Fjord immediately made sense.
There’s something particularly nice about taking a landscape where you’ve pushed yourself physically and turning it into something you can keep at home.
The map isn’t just a picture of Killary. It represents the place where the swim happened and, for the winners receiving one, the achievement of being the fastest swimmer for their category on the day.
Working with Outcrop also fits well with the way we want to approach our events.
Their maps are made using FSC-certified materials and non-toxic glue, and their pieces are designed without nails or screws. They use their signature Atlantic blue stain, inspired by Ireland’s west coast, and the finished maps are fully biodegradable or compostable.
Outcrop have also recently been granted a European patent for their round wooden framing system. Maeve and Aran developed the frame themselves as a way of creating a high-quality, sustainable frame without relying on bulky imported frames or unnecessary materials.
Everything is designed and made in their workshop in Sligo. That local, hands-on approach is something we really liked about working with them. The map of Killary has been made here on the west coast, for an event taking place here on the west coast.
Whether you’re taking on the 750m, 2km, 3.9km or 8km, Gaelforce Great Fjord Swim is ultimately about experiencing Killary from the water.
Some swimmers will be racing for the win. Others will be setting themselves a personal challenge, taking on their first open water event or simply looking for a different way to experience one of Ireland’s most impressive landscapes.
For the overall winners and overall non-wetsuit winners, they’ll have something extra to take home: a handcrafted piece of the landscape they’ve just raced through.
We’re really looking forward to seeing the Outcrop maps awarded on 12 September 2026, and to welcoming swimmers to Killary Fjord for the Gaelforce Great Fjord Swim.
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