Just Show Up: How the Salty Sea Sisters Built a Tribe on Ireland's Atlantic Coast

Community, Connection & Sisterhood

Arriving at Mullaghmore Beach on Ireland’s wild Atlantic coast, we met Áine McAuley and members of the Salty Sea Sisters for an afternoon of cold-water swimming, shared stories and a wood-fired sauna on the sand. It was the perfect setting to discover how a chance connection between two women grew into a thriving outdoor community.

The story of the Salty Sea Sisters began when co-founder Eimear Tangney, originally from Kerry, moved to Northern Ireland for work. Looking for someone to explore the local trails with, she took a chance and responded to an old Facebook post from Áine. Just a few days later, they were mountain biking together and quickly bonded over their shared love of wild adventure.

Recognising how intimidating it can feel for women to try outdoor activities alone, Áine and Eimear began sharing their swims, hikes and surf trips on social media. Their honest and inclusive approach resonated, and what began as two friends heading out together grew into an island-wide movement with tens of thousands of followers. Today, they have created adventure maps featuring more than 300 wild-swimming locations across the UK and Ireland, alongside a “Tribe Finder” directory that helps women connect for surfing, skating, hiking and cold-water dipping.

Áine had set up a mobile wood-fired sauna on the beach, creating a warm retreat from the Atlantic chill. As we settled inside before heading into the water, she reflected on her childhood by the sea and the experiences that inspired her to build the Salty Sea Sisters community.

"Society often focuses more on a woman’s appearance during outdoor pursuits than on her actual ability or skill," Áine explains. "It’s not about what you wear, where you come from, or your skill level; it’s about the feeling afterwards, the sense of achievement, and the encouragement from a group that helps you reach your goals."

Having lost her mother at a young age, Áine realised early on that life is too short to let fear dictate choices. That loss deepened her connection to nature and gave her the drive to build an inclusive space where anyone can step into the wild.

As we prepped to leave the sauna's warmth for the Atlantic waves, Áine offered advice that speaks to anyone seeking community by the water:

"If someone wants to get out outside and try something new, or they're too nervous to take that first step, you do not have to be perfect to give it a go. Just show up, and our community will give you all the courage and support you need to challenge yourself."

Putting The Red Equipment Outerwear Collections Through Its Paces

Breaking down the traditional boundaries of a standard photo shoot, the Red on the Road team—photographers, creators, and marketing gurus—stepped into the narrative, joining the members of the Salty Sea Sisters as we sprinted down the shoreline into the freezing Atlantic surf.

The icy shock of the water was immediate, but so was the surge of energy. In an era when "quietcations" and off-grid rituals are becoming essential antidotes to modern stress, cold water serves as a full-system reset.

Standing in the surf, I chatted with Kelly Wilson, a full-time teacher and a mother. For Kelly, ocean swimming is a vital part of her mental health.

"I get into the water two or three times a week, and if I don’t do it, my mental health definitely takes a toll," Kelly shares. "If I don’t get into the water, I cannot think straight. I also can't show up as the person I need to be for my family and students."

While the Sisters introduced Kelly to the transformative power of the sea, she is now passing that ritual on, regularly bringing her teenage son along on her water adventures.

After an invigorating swim, we pulled on our Evo Pro Changing Robes and Parkas, welcoming their warmth and protection from the biting coastal wind. With hot tea and coffee poured from our Insulated Canteen Bottles into Adventure Flasks, we settled into the comforting post-swim ritual that keeps cold-water swimmers coming back for more.

Seizing the lull in activity and a set of clean, rolling waves, our photographer Abbi Hughes donned her wetsuit, grabbed a surfboard, and sprinted back out into the swell. As Kelly and I watched from the shore, wrapped in our robes, Abbi caught wave after wave, her smile widening with each ride.

The Journey Continues

As the afternoon light began to fade, the wind picked up and shadows lengthened across Tullan Strand. Soon, the beach settled into a quiet stillness, leaving only the ocean mist and the lingering warmth of the shared tea.

This afternoon with the Salty Sea Sisters highlighted precisely why we took Red on the Road to Ireland. It isn't just about technical gear or striking landscapes; it is about the real people, shared rituals, and inclusive communities that form wherever land meets water. From a chance online message between two strangers to an island-wide network of thousands, the Salty Sea Sisters prove that water has a unique power to strip away noise, build lasting friendships, and bring us home to ourselves.

Coming Up: We have one final stop before driving back to Devon. We join stand-up paddleboarder Becky Gilmour on a journey along Ireland's historic inland waterways to explore how quiet, slow travel on the water offers the ultimate off-grid escape.