{"id":653127,"date":"2025-12-24T22:51:52","date_gmt":"2025-12-24T22:51:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/653127\/"},"modified":"2025-12-24T22:51:52","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T22:51:52","slug":"in-pictures-swimmers-brave-the-cold-for-charity-christmas-eve-splash-at-helens-bay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/653127\/","title":{"rendered":"In pictures: Swimmers brave the cold for charity Christmas Eve splash at Helen\u2019s Bay"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom4 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop4\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\" data-testid=\"title-summary\">Scroll through our gallery here to see if you can spot anybody you know\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/b95fd37d-58be-42a5-8bde-b6e035a47311.jpg\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/d619ed03-6d13-488f-a117-adbd6a790c81.jpg\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/f9e7ce01-8bba-41ba-8bd8-627e08f7198a.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1c2eac80-1f2b-4a33-9ff7-3a1d2f5ded3b.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Shannon Johnson, Karen Millar and Nikki Watson at the Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/b2d36a55-5cda-4e6f-b56e-0acb00350e50.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Shannon Johnson, Karen Millar and Nikki Watson at the Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/d2d82c73-d284-48a2-b69f-caa6f4825343.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4d549f8a-56c3-4a54-bb41-5cb7dfdedbe1.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/462f7343-f5dc-4e85-acf8-a612c00e30ba.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/b263c26d-8268-4687-af46-115e15ca8868.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5899ebb4-5e3f-46d1-87aa-458be3d47641.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/acb45ae3-3563-47ae-8358-a958e82f4102.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/fda30c6e-30c8-4e69-9d68-7cb9443fe6a8.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Stephanie Finnegan with dog Summer and Emma Cole with her dog Hugo at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ea74e683-030e-48f9-b6ae-9c8e5f3e0ff0.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Stephanie Finnegan with dog Summer and Emma Cole with her dog Hugo at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/e8fa8656-0653-404a-8476-6564bed86437.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Shannon Johnson, Karen Millar and Nikki Watson at the Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8100ac85-da7a-4f40-9d46-6462e496f8bd.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Shannon Johnson, Karen Millar and Nikki Watson at the Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Andrew Muir MLA and Councillor Gillian McCollum at the Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/964f96c7-bce3-4e1e-b624-70eb341fbaf0.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Andrew Muir MLA and Councillor Gillian McCollum at the Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Stephanie Finnegan with dog Summer and Emma Cole with her dog Hugo at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/81c9f94a-ab93-4b0d-a282-e85d6a69b7b8.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Stephanie Finnegan with dog Summer and Emma Cole with her dog Hugo at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Aidan Malone from Division Mountain Men at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/c7c165e2-1915-4c1e-9296-b1df244a67af.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Aidan Malone from Division Mountain Men at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/df992898-41d4-4b40-a2c0-e50768f1bbc0.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/11ab07b3-3e15-4028-85ad-3c28d3c0f56a.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/59f36a58-9fad-42ca-b33d-90032498e37a.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/593a4c0d-fc63-48db-8d3c-b9dfc9cce88c.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/b9728200-17a5-4cd3-b29b-11ce3bff943a.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/e822b6f6-7503-47e7-b377-3f7b37f754ec.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7935f242-5cd8-4526-8098-42f1c9156430.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/f94f4ce7-d755-4bbd-a615-38fe3cf28a00.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Katherine Lynn and Louise Jackson at the Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/beb4036e-4a3b-419f-b4ba-30962752edd7.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Katherine Lynn and Louise Jackson at the Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sam and Lynda at the Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/102ddca9-6028-4cc9-8cc5-0f47955c7bf4.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Sam and Lynda at the Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/e2414b10-1945-4559-9037-a2b4572ba90e.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Alanna, Patricia and Karen at the Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/f7c9ebb6-f1e3-4a10-82c9-3b5ab1cf066f.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Alanna, Patricia and Karen at the Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Katherine Lynn at the Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/69f5f208-6a98-4a27-bb80-120a81d4f9ec.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Katherine Lynn at the Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5f12f031-abfd-4d3b-a3aa-1bd1527c8519.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/69b6ddf0-3c4e-4147-ba82-da3648a596ad.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Mark Simpson at the Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/b601b3e5-2d4c-47e0-bcd2-a53775f73280.jpg\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Mark Simpson at the Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)<\/p>\n<p>By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association<\/p>\n<p>Press AssociationToday at 15:30<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">Hundreds of swimmers dashed and danced into the sea for a charity dip at Helen\u2019s Bay in Co Down on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">This year\u2019s Santa Splash started with carol singing and bell ringing before a warm-up session led by local fitness coaches Eamon Swail and Calvin Brennan.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766616710_581_d619ed03-6d13-488f-a117-adbd6a790c81.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay. Photo: Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">At 11am the Christmas Eve crowd raced into the cold water of Belfast Lough decked out in Santa hats, tinsel and elf ears.<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">Among them was Agriculture Minister and local MLA and Mayor of Ards and North Down Councillor Gillian McCollum.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Andrew Muir MLA and Councillor Gillian McCollum at the Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766616712_785_964f96c7-bce3-4e1e-b624-70eb341fbaf0.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Andrew Muir MLA and Councillor Gillian McCollum at the Christmas Eve dip at Helen\u2019s Bay on 24th December 2025 (Luke Jervis\/Belfast Telegraph)<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">This year\u2019s event is in aid of two charities, Dementia NI and the Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">Check out our full gallery of photos above<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Scroll through our gallery here to see if you can spot anybody you know The Christmas Eve dip&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":653128,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5011],"tags":[35745,1384,1144,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-653127","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-northern-ireland","8":"tag-christmas","9":"tag-down-news","10":"tag-northern-ireland","11":"tag-uk","12":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115777005261733693","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/653127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=653127"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/653127\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/653128"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=653127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=653127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=653127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}