Born in Northern Ireland and now living in New Zealand, Gráinne Moss captured the attention of the world in 1987, becoming the first Irish woman to swim the English Channel, at just 17 years of age. Moss’s story is one of resilience, endurance, and achievement, both as a swimmer and in public life.
Gráinne Moss - CEO Ministry of Regulation and Ocean Swimmer
Born in Northern Ireland and now living in New Zealand, Gráinne Moss captured the attention of the world in 1987, becoming the first Irish woman to swim the English Channel, at just 17 years of age. Moss’s story is one of resilience, endurance, and achievement, both as a swimmer and in public life.
Moss’s achievements in 1987 heralded the start of a truly remarkable open-water journey. From victories in Ireland’s open-water championships and the ‘Irish Triple Crown’, Moss has broken records and pushed the boundaries on what Irish swimmers can achieve.
Her accolades are not confined to Irish waters, either. In 2001, Gráinne became the first Irish swimmer to swim the notorious Cook Strait between New Zealand’s North and South Islands, as well as conquering many other well-known channels.
Gráinne on one occasion, when encountering a shark, said she got that sinking feeling – not good for an ocean swimmer I think!
Since calling New Zealand home, Gráinne has built a career as one of the country’s most senior public servants.
The same qualities that carry her through bitterly cold seas have shaped her leadership on land: endurance, clarity of purpose and a willingness to take on challenges.