History made as Damian Browne comes ashore in precarious circumstances

Damian Browne has become the first person in history to row from New York to Galway after coming ashore just before 1am this morning.

In the final hours of his epic 112-day journey, the weather forced Damian ashore in precarious circumstances on the rocks at Furbo Beach.

Damian immediately called Chris Martin, the Project Empower land support officer, who in turn contacted the relevant emergency services who mobilised immediately.

First on the scene were Garda Micheál Ó Ráinne from An Spidéil, Garda Vincent Kelly from Indreabhán and Garda Eoin O’Malley from Carna who found Damian and his boat Cushlamachree on the rocks and helped Damian to safety.

Damian and The Project Empower team have expressed their sincere gratitude to the Gardaí and the Emergency First Responders who looked after Damian so well. 

While gutted not to have made it to The Port Of Galway, he is now reunited with his family, is in good spirits and is very much looking forward to celebrating his amazing achievement with the people of Galway.

Damien’s homecoming took place as planned at 11am in Galway Docks when hordes of people turned out to celebrate the successful completion of this mammoth adventure. 

The journey, which has been entitled Project Empower, is part of a fundraising effort for four charitable organisations: National Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation, Ability West, Madra and The Galway Simon Community. 

Those wishing to support Project Empowers charity partners – National Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation, Ability West, Madra and The Galway Simon Community – can do so by visiting idonate.ie/projectempower2022