Our Teachers
“I can’t speak highly enough of her swimming teacher. She put our little girl at ease straight away.” Margaret Rooney via Google Reviews
Kind, friendly and highly-capable instructors are the norm here at Splash Swim School. But they don’t just teach. They are at the heart of our vibrant swimming community, encouraging integrity, equality and a keen sense of fair play.
Building Your Confidence
Teachers will take the time to get to know you or your child. They will also work hard to encourage positive friendships within the class. This provides a supportive scaffold for learning to swim.
Helping You Thrive
Our instructors are highly-qualified and take regular courses to develop further. Naturally, they’re eager to pass on their up-to-date knowledge, making sure you or your child have the best opportunities possible.
Keeping You Safe
Water safety and child protection are our top priorities and we take your well-being seriously. Teachers are trained to be vigilant about risk and to take action immediately when required.
Click on a teachers name below to find out more about a swim instructor….
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Dolores McWeeney
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 I am from Donegal. I live in North Sligo where I am a substitute PE Teacher. I love outdoor sports, especially water sports. I am a qualified canoeist, kayaker and a climber. I love surf kayaking with big scary waves.
My first love is swimming. I have started to swim in the ocean and lakes around Sligo. I love new challenges. I love travelling, volunteering and fundraising. I have worked and travelled all over the world. In 2012, I went to Nepal to volunteer for an Irish Charity “The Umbrella Foundation”. It was the best experience of my life. |
I teach on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
My sporting qualifications include:
RLSS Lifeguard
RLSS Lifeguard Trainer and Assessor.
Irish Water Safety, Level 1 and Level 2.
Irish Water Safety, Level 3
Teaching Aquatics with Disabilities.
Master of Science of Applied Sport & Exercise Psychology (University of Ulster.)
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Brid Graham
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 Married to John and living on a farm in Riverstown, we have two small children who are great fun! When not teaching in primary schools, I am teaching in swimming pools. Speaking foreign languages, cooking and helping on the farm takes up alot of my time! I am very lucky to have travelled to over 25 countries and have worked all over the world.
Teaching swimming is great, as I feel it is a great individual sport but also good fun to participate together in a group!
In 2004, I a qualified Primary School Teacher in London and hold a Master’s Degree in Business.(Michael Smurfit School of Business; UCD)
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I teach on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
My sporting qualifications include:
Swim Ireland Teaching Aquatics, Level 1 and Level 2.
Irish Water Safety, Level 1 and Level 2.
Irish Water Safety, Level 3 Teaching Aquatics with Disabilities.
Garda Liaison Child Protection Officer for Splash Swim School.
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Neil McCabe
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 I live in Sligo, married to Donna and have two boys, Ryan & Conor, and a dog, Cooper.
When I’m not teaching swimming, I have plenty to keep me busy. If I’m not running after the two boys, spending time with the family, walking the dog, supporting Tottenham Hotspur, I can be found in the garden fighting with some power tools.
I also like to spend time exercising with ZUU movements and going for a run.
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I teach on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
My sporting qualifications include:
BBS Hons Degree in Rec & Leisure from IT Sligo.
RLSS trained Lifeguard.
STA Level 2 Swim Instructor.
STA Level 2 Cert. in Baby & Preschool Swim
Instructor. Sport Ireland Safeguarding 3.
STA Cert. in Cerebal Palsy and Swimming.
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Zara Stafford
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My name is Zara Stafford, I am a 22 year old student studying Early Childhood Care and Education L8.
Working with children is my favourite part of teaching swimming, seeing them excel in a sport and a life skill that played a massive role in my own childhood is truly amazing.
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My sporting qualifications include:
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Roger Hogan
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I enjoy teaching because I like to work with people to help them improve. I like to see them progressing, I find it very rewarding watching people improve. It’s a nice reward as well to be surprised at how fast people are improving.
I also enjoy watching people’s enjoyment when they are swimming too.
I find everyone on our team is very much in tune with each other and I always try to pick up some knowledge from the other teachers as well.
Interesting fact about myself:
I’m a drummer.
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I teach on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays.
My sporting qualifications include:
Nat. Cert in Health & Fitness Studies from IT Tralee.
RLSS trained Lifeguard.
Swim Ireland Swim Teaching Certificate.
STA Level 2 Cert. in Baby & Preschool Swim
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Nigel Coen
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I moved from Meath to Sligo in 2018 with my wife and two girls, now living in Rosses Point with our dog Manni.
I rediscovered swimming later in life, and took lessons to learn proper technique – best money I ever spent. I believe swimming is such a valuable life skill that everyone should have, for all the physical and mental wellbeing it offers, and I began teaching in 2019 which I’ve got great enjoyment and satisfaction from.
I swim in the sea all year round (I love the buzz from the cold water in winter!) and I get awful cranky if I go more than a couple of days without it. In a past life I lived in Vietnam for 2 years teaching English to schoolchildren, so it’s great to be teaching again, this time from the pool deck.
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I teach on Thursdays & Fridays.
My sporting qualifications include:
Swim Ireland Level 1 Assistant Swimming Teacher
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Elaine Stafford
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Swimming has been and still is a massive part of my life I have been a Competitive swimmer all of my life and now still compete in Open Water long distance events.
I have been teaching and Coaching swimming 30 years plus now and still thoroughly enjoy it! Teaching someone to swim is one of the greatest things you can do for a person and I get immense job satisfaction out of it.
Interesting fact:
I’m a very proud Mammy of 2 more teachers on our team 
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I teach on …….Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays
My sporting qualifications include:
Level 2 Autism Swimming
teacher
Level 2 Babies and Toddlers
First Aid & CPR Awareness for Sport
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Zoe Stafford
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Hi I’m Zoe!
I am a full time student in Sligo IT and I have been teaching swimming with Spalsh Swim school for the last 2 years. I come from a long line of swimming teachers, coaches and competitive swimmers in my family!
I love to swim in my spare time and really enjoy teaching as part of this great swimming school.
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I teach on …….Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays & Mondays
My sporting qualifications include:
First Aid & CPR Awareness for Sport
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Gwen Hunter
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I’ve always enjoyed swimming and after an absence since my late teens, returned to it years later as an active member of Sligo Triathlon Club. This re-introduction to the sport in the pool and the open water gave me the incentive to get a swimming teacher qualification.
I joined Splash Swim School in 2018 as a cover swim teacher and after some time in the UK I returned and now teach weekly in Mullaghmore. I love to swim and get great satisfaction in seeing young swimmers progress in the sport to fully enjoy the water.
A large part of my work for Splash is with our fantastic colleagues and swimmers in Waterford. Splash Swim
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I teach on Tuesdays in Mullaghmore
My sporting qualifications include:
Level 1 Swim Instructor.
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