Former rugby player becomes first person to row from New York to Galway

Damian Browne arrived on the rocks of Furbo Beach this morning after 112 days at sea.

The former professional rugby player has become the first person in history to row from New York to Galway.

Browne began the journey in Manhattan on Tuesday, 14th June at 3.10am. The 500km undertaking entitled Project Empower was chronicled through an Instagram account of the same name.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CjE3t1epkmE/

This morning, the account shared an update, revealing that Browne had come into difficulty at the tail end of the journey, being “forced ashore in precarious circumstances” at Furbo Beach, about 10km west of the Port of Galway.

The update reads:

With mixed emotions we need to tell you that earlier this morning on Tuesday, October 4th shortly before 1am (GMT +1) after 2,686 hours at sea and over 3450 nautical miles rowed, Damian Browne became the first person in history to row from New York to Galway when he and Cushlamachree came ashore on the rocks at Furbo Beach, just short of The Port Of Galway.

Having left Chelsea Piers, Manhattan on Tuesday, June 14th at 03:10 am (GMT + 1), Damian had spent almost 16 weeks or 112 days at sea, fighting Mother Nature every step of the way and eventually in the last hours of this epic, unforgiving undertaking Mother Nature had her way and forced Damian ashore in precarious circumstances on the rocks at Furbo Beach, Galway.

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 Cushlamachree on the rocks and helped Damian to safety. Damian and The Project Empower team would like to express their sincere gratitude to the emergency services and in particular the Valentia Coast Guard, the Gardaí and the Emergency First Responders who looked after Damian so well.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CjJ7_EvoSai/

While gutted not to have made it to The Port Of Galway, Damian 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 at his homecoming which takes place as planned, later this morning at 11am in Galway Docks when we hope you will all be present to celebrate the successful completion of this mammoth adventure with one of the worlds premier ocean rowers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CjR0dQvrqbj/

Browne will enjoy a homecoming at the Port of Galway this morning at 11am.

Header image via Instagram/projectempower2022

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