Julia Galvin -Sink or Swim

Joy to the World.

2011-11-12T14:41:00.003Z

Hello boys and girls!! Let's smile a little more... hold doors for others....make people feel as though they count....help strangers..help friends... find old friends...love the dogs that eat your jeans "...for they know not what they do..." To quote a friend of mine.." Try to leave a room happier than when you entered it."

This is a great day.

Love , Peace and Joy and Health to YOU!!

'tis the season to be boggy!

2011-08-15T16:08:00.004+01:00

We live in interesting times. Get your wetsuit out and go to the Bog Snorkelling World Championships! They are being held in Llanwrtyd-Wells, Wales.

When?

Sunday August 28th 2011.

Rawhide!

2011-07-01T16:00:00.002+01:00

Well folks, things happen, situations change and unfortunately I have to inform you that there is no Wife carrying representative for The Principality of Hutt River this year. A freak accident has left me with second degree burns about 20cm x10cm but I have next year to look forward to. catch you soon!

Carrier Confirmed.

2011-06-13T16:01:00.006+01:00

Mr. Mauri Zahkna of Estonia has confirmed his wish to carry me at this year's World Wife Carrying Championship in Sonkajarvi, Finland. Mauri has carried me before in 2009. I will be representing The Principality of Hutt River.

Incommunicado.....

2011-05-20T18:19:00.008+01:00

Tomorrow, I will attend my only Goddaughter's First Holy Communion. I hope it is sunny and I hope she smiles! I am thinking back to my own 'day out' 33 years ago. Outside my bedroom door in the hallway, the photo hangs, Dad, me and Mum. Mum is the only one smiling, myself and Dad wince in the May morning sunlight, Mum nudges me and through her teeth (like a ventriloquist) tells me to smile too. Too late, no digital re-takes! An eternal grimace.

I've not been up to much recently, I hope to be in Finland in July for Wife Carrying. It looks like I will only be a spectator...there's a drought of strong thirsty men in the world....!!But as a Finnish Champion Wife Carrier once paraphrased to me "YUUULIA! Laife's laike a bux of chukolaites.....!!"

It Rained On My Parade...!

2011-04-11T17:53:00.003+01:00

It was March 19th, I was in Singleton attending a fundraiser for The Children's Cancer Institute Australia. The evening was a great success, the family and friends of the late Tom Kirkwood had gathered in his honour.
I had had a thoroughly good time and had met some inspiring people. The most inspiring had to be Mr. Kurt Fearnley, a Gold Medal Olympian (too much for me to even try to attempt to describe his achievements maybe you should do a wee search for yourself). http://kurtfearnley.com
I probably had about 40mins sleep before getting up to travel to the Sydney St.Patrick's Day Parade and Family Festival. I was so excited! I was to assist at the commentary of the St. Patrick's Day Parade. This was to be a major bullet point on the "Galvin Bucket List"...but it was not meant to be... from Cessnock to Sydney the rains were tropical and consistent...like what you'd find on Beale Strand on a balmy August day... a downpour. Then the inevitable happened..I got a phone call from President Ger Ryan.. this was around 8.20am and a strange maturity soon replaced the disappointment...Yippee!! I could go back to bed!

Here's The Juice...!

2011-03-09T03:57:00.007Z

I left Orange. And I spent a week in Lithgow in the shadow of the Blue Mountains and indeed we must have been in the shadow as it was lovely and cool about 18c. It suited my Irish complexion very well. My friends took me to see the THREE SISTERS rock formation definitely worth a viewing.

After hanging out in Lithgow for a week I headed once more for the big smoke of Sydney, there I met up with some old friends Kevin and Tanya they are the proprietors of the Sydney based fashion house "Minty Meets Munt" http://mintymeetsmunt.bigcartel.com/

I also got dolled up and attended The Benji Marshall Foundation Ball in aid of the Children's Cancer Institute Australia. http://www.ccia.org.au/ a good night was had by all.

The following day I headed for Singleton NSW and that's where I am now meeting up with a few old friends from the wife carrying scene.

Next week I will attend a Memorial Evening for our friend, Singleton's Tom Kirkwood that had he young life cut short by cancer. I am sure he'll be with us all in spirit.

East Coast and New South.....

2011-02-19T09:28:00.006Z

I am in Orange. The one in N.S.W. and I am happy, the weather has been cold and cloudy... and it suits me just fine!! I will be M.C at my friends' wedding in March and my speech has been composed by me and approved by the bride....phew!

Last week, I left Adelaide by plane to Sydney. I (foolishly) decided to stay in a suburb called Tempe, next to a highway under the flightpath to Sydney International Airport ..I know I don't sound enthusiastic.... No sleep! It was torture! On a plus side, during the day, it was very interesting...as soon as the first A380 wakes you up at 0.6.30 it's a case of "if you can't beat them , join them!" and it is quite amazing to see these jumbo feats of engineering and physics just glide by a few metres away from the balcony. Let's say..one trip to Tempe was enough.

I then went by a very dirty, icky, dirty train to Lithgow...what fantastic scenery through the Blue Mountains...Those I recommend! Stunning scenery! A single ticket to my final destination of Orange was just 26$AUD..not bad at all....!

I've come a long way baby! Greetings from the Goldfields of Kalgoorlie, W.A.

2011-02-04T13:02:00.020Z

Well folks, I have left picturesque yet sunless Finland, my life in Saariselka as an Elf is well and truly over. It was fun but tough. I made lots of friends and even more memories.

Here I am on a very humid Summer night in Western Australia. I have just checked my flag counter and my latest visitor is from Iran and I had those mixed feelings that must strike every lazy blogger. Pride and Guilt, Proud that somebody from a new country has clicked in and the Guilt of not writing often or well enough.
To all of you that check in on me and my exploits, I thank you, it means a lot...!

I reached Perth in the middle of the night 2 weeks ago and overnighted in a motel. Motels are strange places that always stink of men, I don't know why and I'd rather not know why! The first thing an Irish woman does is check the surroundings for spiders and pull the bed away from the wall in case my arachnoid buddies climb up the wall and into my ears during the night.

Next, check the toilet for more creatures. Bang the lid, flush and check toilet roll holders for reclusive spiders.
Then, see how low can the air con go! I had been in Finland 2 weeks previously at-34c . Australia is far too hot for me but it's a chance to see old friends and make new ones.

I had an interesting week in my next port of call Geraldton where I was the guest of the very hospitable people of the City of Geraldton Greenough. I spent time doing radio/ TV interviews and having a very nice time. I was honoured to help them with their Australia Day celebrations, I was MC for their inaugural Wife Carrying race.

I finally had my dream come true! I went on a return visit to The Principality of Hutt River, there I was greeted by H.R.H Prince Leonard and H.R.H. Princess Shirley and their son Crown Prince Ian and his wife Princess Annette and Sir Steve Baikie ADC and his wife Dame Chris Baikie. I got across the border whilst enduring +43c with the help of Geraldton-Greenough P.R.O. Sue Chiera , together we all entered the Chapel at Nain and went though a ceremony bestowing me with my Damehood "for my service to the State for International Sports". I am now Dame Julia Galvin of the Serene Order of Leonard. It was all very formal, the sword came close to my ears but here I am to tell the tale.

All good things come to an end, I flew back to Perth and experienced city life with friends before flying to my Australian H.Q. in Kalgoorlie. Here, I have the advice and friendship of Ciara and Aaron who help to "ground" this old foreigner and "re-group the troop" and assist me in my next campaign...S.A. and the East!

I have been practicing for my bog snorkelling events here in their lovely garden swimming-pool and watching on the TV the terrible troubles of the people of Queensland, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Many thanks to all that are making my trip so memorable.....2 weeks down...! Beautiful Adelaide next!

Christmas is coming!

2010-12-14T11:45:00.002Z

Well hello there you patient people! It's been a while since I wrote but I must say it's been a very busy year. I have been to many events waving the flag for Ireland and The Principality of Hutt River. I have skimmed stones in Fenit, I have thrown stones in Corrofin, Wife Carrying in Finland and Bog snorkelling in Wales.

In August, I was bestowed the great honour of becoming Dame Julia Galvin of The Serene Order of Leonard. I would Like to Thank Prince Leonard and Princess Shirley for this great event.

I turned 40 in October and I had a few parties all of which were great fun! I hope to become an Elf this Christmas in Lapland and in the new year I hope to return to Australia to do some wife carrying in Geraldton W.A. for Australia Day. I also hope to return to The Principality of Hutt River my wish is to have my Damehood Honours Medal pinned on by Prince Leonard himself.

Have a plan folks...! And Merry Christmas! Love, peace, health and happiness to you all!

2010-04-30T19:21:00.001+01:00

Gerry Ryan R.I.P.

2010-04-30T16:28:00.003+01:00

It is with great regret and sadness that I learn of passing of the radio star Gerry Ryan. All my media madness can linked to my first radio interview with Gerry in August 1999. I was quite nervous about talking to this great broadcasting icon but within seconds we were laughing and joking about my plan to represent Ireland at the bizarre sport Bog Snorkelling. That was the start of the craziness and I haven't looked back since! Thank you Gerry and Rest In Peace.

Swing Into Spring!!

2010-03-26T15:06:00.005Z

Well now! I have been to Finland over Feb/ March and had a mighty time with my friends. I even experienced -36c so, I can now say that I have experienced the extremes now of +39c in W.A. Australia in 2009 and -36c in Vuokatti Finland.

Terrible News for Outdoor Swimmers.

My cousin sent me some bad news...there are terrible plans to get rid of my favouite swimming pool in Brighton, The Saltdean Lido, there is a campaign on Facebook to save it. So folks join the campaign!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Saltdean-Lido-Campaign/365408382763?ref=search&sid=588157752.3015787972..1&v=wall#!/pages/Saltdean-Lido-Campaign/365408382763?ref=ts

Have a lovely Easter!

Now...Over and out!!

Julia XXX

Sliding into Christmas!

2009-12-11T21:21:00.008Z

Hello my lovelies!!

I hope that this finds you all well! With Christmas right around the proverbial corner I hope that you are all on the "Nice" list and you get everything you need from Mr. Claus. My wish to you this year is...

LOVE, PEACE, HEALTH & HAPPINESS!

It is probably not a good time of year to Bog Snorkel in Europe at the moment as it is quite cold.

I want to thank my fans, friends and supporters who have done their best in keeping my 'ship' afloat..especially the people of Llanwrtyd-Wells, Sonkajarvi, Finland, The Australians and Their Royal Highnesses Prince Leonard and Princess Shirley of The Principality of Hutt River.

Some of you may know, I have dual citizenship of both Ireland and The Principality of Hutt River and this year I had the pleasure of becoming The P.H.R. Official Representative For Novelty and Bizarre Sports. (There's a link to the Principality here on the right)

Of course, last but not least, deepest thanks to my main sponsor since 1970... My Dad Frank Galvin!!

God Bless! Julia XXX

Summer Activity Updates

2009-08-05T12:52:00.002+01:00

Well now folks....it's high time that I told you that I survived my bee sting and in early May I got home safe and sound. I had a fantastic time on my travels and hope to return to the southern hemisphere again sometime soon. Christopher Sexton carried me in Singleton at the Australian wife carrying race...we finished last...but we FINISHED! that man has unknown strengths! at 75kg he carried me for 253m and I am 122kg! What a guy! and we raised AUS$26,000 for the Australian Children Cancer Institute. A great day was had by all!

Unfortunately, on the day of my home-coming I got the tragic news that I had lost a dear dear friend Mr. Stephen Hodnett...he died in an accident in NYC. (more info)

He was talented at many things, bog snorkelling, Ice swimming, cycling, but it's the memory of his amazing hugs that will stay with me forever. R.I.P my friend.

July saw me compete in the World Wife Carrying Championships in Sonkajarvi , Finand. (watch the video)

http://www.3news.co.nz/News/InternationalNews/Wife-Carrying-Championships-take-place-in-Finland/tabid/417/articleID/111498/cat/61/Default.aspx

In Finland, I represented The Principality of Hutt River as I have been commissioned by Prince Leonard himself to Represent The Principality in all novel sports ... to know more about this Micronation check this out...(have a look in the News Section 2009)
http://www.principality-hutt-river.com/

I came 33/35 in Finland...not bad! 2 mins 22 seconds. Many thanks to Mauri Zahkna of Estonia who carried me ..and is still alive.

Margo Uusorg's 2007 time of 2mins 8 seconds remains the fastest time of carrying me.

I thank all the people everywhere that have fed and watered me in my travels...it is much appreciated.

Julia gets STUNG Down Under

2009-04-28T02:26:00.001+01:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 28th 2009 Tragedy Strikes Twice For Irish Wife Down Under. Julia Galvin, Wife carrying participant in this weekend's Singleton Countryfest has been the victim of bad luck for the second time. Julia Galvin has returned to N.S.W to enter the Countryfest Wife Carrying Race. This is no easy feat as Julia (38) weighs in at a dainty 120kg. Julia had the honour of being carried by local Power Lifter David Vaughan last year. Where the pair raised thousands for The Australian Childrens Cancer Institute. Reeling from the last minute revelation that Paul Sironen withdrew his offer to carry Miss Galvin at the event , Julia, yesterday evening, sought consolation and advice from Australian wife carrying Guru, Anthony Partridge at his family gathering, when disaster stuck again...this time in the form of a bee!! Unknownst to Julia a honeybee from Anthony's garden had climbed up her trouser leg and and stung her. With this the shocked Irish woman soon displayed an impromptu Irish Jig whilst squeeling Irish obscenities into the Hunter Valley night skies. "It was a terrible ordeal...when you travel Down Under your eyes are peeled for spiders and snakes...not a honey bee! I'll just have to 'bee hive myself' I guess?!!" chuckles Julia. Julia Galvin is in high sprits nonetheless, " This was the second piece of bad luck to befall me, I am not disappointed in Paul Sironen, he has an injury plus he's getting on in years..none of these things will will deter me from entering this weekend and I am looking forward to meeting with my new carrier Sydney Strongman Mr .Christopher Sexton." World Champion Bog Snorkeller Julia is fresh from a whirlwind tour of Australia, she has been as far north as Julia Creek QLD where she took part in the Bog Snorkelling event at the Dirt'n'Dust festival and as far west as the Hutt River Province a land locked Principality near Geraldton in W.A. . Julia Galvin is a Citizen of Hutt River and has the Royal Approval of Prince Leonard to Represent His nation at Novelty sports worldwide. Since her trip to Australia Julia has been quite the "media darling" rubbing shoulders with Larry and Kylie on 7's Morning Show as well as appearing on Channel 9's Today Show. You can meet Julia Galvin at Singleton's Countryfest this Saturday May 2nd before she flies back to Ireland next week.

DirtnDust Festival 2009

2009-03-18T09:35:00.009Z

Hi All,

Just a quick word to let you know I am on my way to Australia again to compete in the Dirt n Dust Bog Snorkelling Championship 2009.

I have been training in the cold in Ireland so it will be great to see a bit of sun for a change....

I'll will keep you posted in my progress

from ABC BUSH TELEGRAPH

2008-04-28T12:04:00.000+01:00

Bog Snorkelling at Julia Creek

By Vicki Wilson

Monday, 21/04/2008
Julia Creek is about as far away from an cold Irish peat bog as you can get. It's hot and dusty and there's not usually much mud around.

But that hasn't deterred organisers of the town's Dirt and Dust Festival from holding a bog snorkelling competition and inviting the world bog snorkelling champion Julia Galvin along to compete.
They dug a trench about 30 metres long and filled it with water to create the "bog". A few red claw crayfish were also added as a special surprise!
Julia Galvin, World bog champion and Justin Vardey, Event organiser.

Julia wades in...

2008-04-08T12:37:00.008+01:00

For the near-sighted, article reads (by-John Andersen , in the Townsville Bulletin) --

NEARLY THERE . . . Julia Galvin, of Ireland, during her epic ‘swim’

Bog champ conquers creek

She came, she saw, she bog snorkeled. Julia Galvin, world champion Irish bog snorkeller, took Julia Creek by storm. The two Julias —the town and the bog snorkeller— loved each other. Ms Galvin is a cross between bog snorkeling athlete and performer. As the sole competitor in the event, she played to the crowd, singing “I’ve Been a Bog Snorkeller”, as she sat at the edge of the bog hole seconds before her epic swim on Sunday.

She’d seen the bullriders go through their over-the-top prayer to the Lord before the bull-riding event on Saturday night and came up with one of her own: ‘‘Lord I want to thank you for the beautiful bog in Julia Creek. For some reason you have blessed me with this insanity, so please Lord, let me put it to good use. And seeing as this is Queensland, Lord, let me survive this drive.’’ She added the last bit after taking note of the many public service signs on her way to town.

She abruptly ended a radio interview in Julia Creek’s main street on Saturday morning when the interviewer introduced her as Julia Galvin ‘from the UK’. Ms Galvin stormed down the footpath shouting ‘I’m from Ireland. Ireland! ’A good sport, she came back, but the interviewer didn’t mention the UK again. The town turned out to see her perform yesterday and she didn’t disappoint. With her wet suit, flippers, face mask and snorkel, she cut an imposing figure as she strutted her stuff at the bog snorkeling arena, joking and singing. She’d already competed in the cow-pat throwing competition and was in a hurry to get to the fly-swatting contest.

Bog snorkellers, it seems, just want to have a go at everything.

Hitting the highway -with a thump

2008-04-05T10:03:00.004+01:00

JOHN ANDERSEN in the Townsville Bulletin reports;

...Ms Galvin said her training involved a slow breathing technique, fast leg movement and a slow, powerful arm stroke
that resembled a John Travolta disco movement. In coming to Australia to compete she said she felt she had the weight of the world on her shoulders.

"I am representing Ireland and the rest of the world," she said. On her drive out to Julia Creek she saw a dingo and some emus, but only roadkill kangaroos.

"I'm not interested in seeing reptiles or spiders up close," she said. Several times...'

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

OZ -Reports from the front line #4

2008-04-02T21:53:00.002+01:00

Sunday 30th cont.

When John asked for his tickets I asked for mine again and they were there after all. Hurray! It turns out that I did know John after all. I had given him and few more a lift after a wedding 2 years ago.

John showed me a txt from his mother, saying that she heard a rumour from Billy Keane that Tadhg Kennelly had organised her son to be sitting next to a celebrity.. ha ha.

More to follow.

OZ -Reports from the front line #3

2008-04-02T21:49:00.002+01:00

Sunday 30th

Armed against the sun with factor 50, a sun hat, red glittery Pom poms and an Umbrella! ...I went to S.C.G. in a taxi which I must say are Very cheap in comparison to home. I went to the box office to pick up my ticket that Tadhg had kindly left me.... the whole place was a sea of red and white...30 odd degrees and not a cloud in the sky.... oh man was i going to burn!?
I asked the lady for my ticket... and she couldn't find it! my heart sank, but I knew that another Listowelee was going to be there so I waited for him...John Perryman.. I knew of the Perrymans but wasn't too sure if I would recognise him or not.. It was great when he finally came along as I was getting no joy trying to plamas the ticket ladies... Telling me that they couldn't sort a ticket for me that it was a "Tie" issue They can't say Tadhg down here.

OZ -Reports from the front line #2

2008-04-02T21:45:00.002+01:00

Sat 29th

I had been warned by the guys in Listowel to bring home Tadhg Kennelly Memorabilia...so...i spent a lot of money buying smiths crisps looking for a sydney swans Sticker of Tadhg... SEVERAL bags later I decided to read the packet.... N.R.L National rugby league!! not A.F.L ..Australian Football League! Depending on what part of oz footy means different games. Not to worry Julia Got to see the man himself play on Sunday

OZ -Reports from the front line

2008-04-02T21:33:00.004+01:00

Friday April 28th
The hair was not in a fit state to be seen and a hair-do was no.1 on the list of priorities... so I ended up on the edge of Chinatown in George's St and got my hair done by a Japanese lady called Aki who gave me a cut that made me look like one of the Beatles for $275... ouch1. I wandered around a few skinny people shops until a big Russian woman told me to go to Bondi Junction shopping centre. So thats what i did. I went on the train and came back on the bus. I find the trains a bit grubby but they have seats that flip up so you are never travelling backwards.
I went to see Kevin O'Shea that evening and his lovely ladies Tan and Ruby. I had a lovely seafood pasta and I think I ate calamari...Frank isn't big on exotic seafood ...i.e anything other than Donegal catch. When I got back to the Hostel I had a "golden Gaytime"

Julia goes Down Under

2008-03-18T19:35:00.004Z

Touching down in Australia this April and looking forward to competing in an extravaganza of BIZARRE SPORTS, first stop in the itinerary is the coincidentally named JULIA CREEK in Queensland at the DIRT 'n DUST FESTIVAL (4th-6th Apr.)for BOG SNORKELLING, COW PAT THROWING & FLY SWATTING.

By being the celebrity guest at the Australian Wife Carrying race -to be held in Singleton N.S.W., (12th Apr.)I will have the honour of being carried by none other than Australia's representative Power Lifter, champion David Vaughan. This will be interesting as I weigh in at 120kg!
It's a children's cancer battling charity, so try get there and dig deep.

I have plans to cross Australia by train taking in KALGOORLIE and to visit the land locked state of the Hutt river province before leaving via Perth at the end of April

Julia holds up her good name.

2008-01-05T10:39:00.002Z

I have been competing at Eukonkannon MM-kisat since 2003. I still can't spell that word after all this years let alone to pronounce it!

I'm a finer specimen of a woman (i.e. bigger) than most women that enter this
World Championships. Some people have asked in the past if I find it troublesome competing with the 49kg ladies. I simply tell them the objects of the race, namely 1. Win the woman's weight in beer and 2. Have fun!

Coming to Finland for the first time in 2003 I had many preconceptions about
the place, I thought that it would be colder, greyer, windier and wetter than
Ireland. That everybody had a reindeer and that not one person would understand
me!

Wowee! I was blown straight out of the water on all accounts! Most people in
Ireland go to the south of Europe for a "sun holiday". I have been advising all
my friends to come to Finland, where 24hr sunshine and clean and active living
is the order of the day.

Food, fishing, saunas, lake swimming, BBQ's and parties all the time, the
Finns put down a great summer of entertaining themselves and their neighbours.
Their gardens are lush and full of beautiful flowers. You may think I'm
painting a "Too Beautiful" image of the place but believe me, come here and see
for yourself.

Unlike the Irish, the Finns are a little more reserved at the start but "to
know a Finn is to love a Finn"! Once you get past that austere shell you will
find the most loving, giving, spiritual and hilarious people that love to talk!

I love them so much I came back to see the winter, it's snowing and last night
it was -17c! Ireland has a temperate climate so anything below -4c is a great
cause of excitement for me. The houses are hot and snow is just like sugar,
crunchy underfoot - not the best for making snowmen!

Speaking of men - I must say the Finnish men are very beautiful! Other scenery includes Christmas trees, green in the summer and white in the winter and lakes, dark and bottomless in the summer and solid ice in the winter. Cross country skiing is a local activity in the winter that I'm going to try today!

The race itself? On the day about 8000 spectators come to watch at the local
school running track, some people come in fancy dress, some in the latest high
tech running gear. The most competitive are the Estonians, they have been
winning this race for years! Every year they have a new way of carrying or
jumping.

I had the honour of being carried by former world champion Margo
Uusorg in 2007. It was an experience I'm unlikely to forget! I came 29th out
of the 44 couples. Not bad considering I have always come last in previous
years.

I don't know who is going to carry me in 2008 but I know I will see you there!