Competitive Swimming Meets & Competitions

Nenagh Neptune is a competitive swimming club. While participation in inter-club meets and galas is not mandatory in junior squads, it is strongly encouraged. Over the years, our swimmers have gained confidence, personal satisfaction, and lasting friendships through these events. We also appreciate that competitions can be a source of stress for both swimmers and parents, especially in the beginning.

This guide aims to answer some common questions and help you understand how competitive swimming works at club level.

Do I have to enter my child in galas?

No — gala participation is not mandatory in junior squads.
However, competitive swimming is centred on self-improvement, measured through Personal Best (PB) times. Galas give swimmers an opportunity to see the results of their training and to set progressive goals.

How do I know when my child is ready for a gala?

Typically, swimmers participate in their first gala after about a year of consistent club training. Speaking with your child’s coach is the best way to gauge readiness.

For licensed Swim Ireland inter-club competitions, the swimmer must be 8 years old by 31 December of the competition year. This is consistent with Swim Ireland’s age-on-31-December rule used across competitions. Different competitions have different age and qualifying times depending on the level of the competition.

How do galas work? Will my child race against much older or more advanced swimmers?

No. Swim Ireland galas are graded to ensure fair and age-appropriate competition:

  • Level 1 galas are for swimmers new to competition.
  • Swimmers with No Time (NT) in an event are placed together in early heats.
  • Events are seeded by time, grouping swimmers of similar ability together.

This structure helps reduce anxiety, especially for young swimmers.

How do clubs and Swim Ireland track swimmers’ times?

All registered swimmers receive a unique Swim Ireland identifier (SI Number). Every official gala result is uploaded to the national database, where times are stored and used for future seeding and qualification.

This ensures fair placement and progression for all swimmers.

How does age affect competition and classification?

Swim Ireland uses age on 31 December of the competition year.
Events and awards are typically grouped in two-year age bands (e.g., 9–10, 11–12, 13–14). This is standard across Swim Ireland competitions.

How will I know when suitable galas are coming up? How do I enter, and what does it cost?

All upcoming gala notifications are sent through the SwimClub Manager app, the club WhatsApp group and emails.

Key points:

  • Entries normally close three weeks before the gala date (to meet Swim Ireland licensing requirements).
  • Coaches advise on which events are appropriate.
  • Entries are processed online through the club.
  • Typical entry fees are approximately €9 per event (varies by meet).