Night Swimming: How to Swim through the Darkness

The Linen Hall is delighted to welcome internationally renowned big wave surfer, writer, and motivational speaker Al Mennie for a special talk marking National Sporting Heritage Day.

Best known for conquering towering waves from California’s Mavericks to Portugal’s Nazaré, the Northern Ireland-born surfer has in recent years turned his focus closer to home, embracing the unique power of wild swimming after dark.

At this special one-hour event, Night Swimming: How to Swim Through the Darkness, Al will share insights from his new book of the same name. Blending personal stories with practical guidance, the book explores how night swimming can transform the way we connect with the sea, the natural world, and ourselves.

Audiences will hear first-hand how Al discovered the solace and clarity of swimming under the stars along Northern Ireland’s coast, and how the practice became both a personal ritual and a way to raise awareness for mental health. His talk will also touch on safety, preparation, navigation by moon and stars, and the importance of community.

Alongside his global surfing career, featured in the award-winning film Waveriders and celebrated at Ireland’s Ulster Museum, Al has written nine books, created films, and raised thousands of pounds for mental health charities through his annual Swim Through Darkness campaign.