42nd time lucky for Liffey Swim winner Ronan Dalton

It was a case of 42nd time lucky for Ronan Dalton who claimed victory in the Liffey Swim in one of the closest races in years.

The 60-year-old swimmer, from the Half Moon Club in Dublin, touched the finish line first after a gruelling 2.2km course from the Guinness brewery to the Custom House.

"I've finished everywhere in the top 10 over the years, but never first," he said.

Mr Dalton, who is the President of Half Moon, said it is extra special this year.

"It’s the 125th anniversary of the club, one of the oldest in the country, so it means a lot to us all to have a Half Moon winner," he added.

Louis Masterson was 2nd and Adam Lynch finished 3rd.

The women’s race was won by Roseanne Marshall from the Guinness Swimming Club, with Eabha Ni Shiadhail in 2nd place and Gemma Farrelly in 3rd.

More than 500 swimmers took part in the event, which was the 103rd running of the race.