Shiver me timbers! The Gulf waters are chilly …

Participants in the Shamrock Shiver Charity Plunge — some in costumes — rush Jan. 1 into the chilly waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Clancy’s Irish Pub & Grill on Cortez Road in Bradenton sponsors the annual Shamrock plunge on New Year’s Day at Cortez Beach in Bradenton Beach. An after-party took place at the bar. See more from the event, page 13. Islander Photos: Tomas Gomez

Danny Moore of Clancy’s Irish Pub & Grill counts down the plunge into 2022 on the beach Jan. 1. Since 2009, the Clancy’s plunge has raised more than $300,000 for nonprofits, such as the Blessing Bags Project, Feeding Empty Little Tummies, Healthy Teens Coalition of Manatee County and Nutrition Initiative.

Barry and Ruth Ann Hopkins of Bradenton won best costume at the beach costume competition for their Lady Liberty and Uncle Sam costumes.

Paul Devine of Bradenton shows his love for sea turtles in the Shamrock Shiver Charity Plunge held Jan. 1 in Bradenton Beach.

Costume party participants and spectators lined up for a group photo before doing the Shamrock Shiver plunge into the Cortez Beach water.

Marty Gray, left, attended the event to play bagpipes and serenade giant sea turtle, Paul Devine. Gray, of Bradenton, has been playing the bag pipes for 26 years and says he’s a regular patron of Clancy’s Irish Pub and Grill.