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LAST UPDATE | 4 Oct 2022
FORMER PROFESSIONAL RUGBY player Damian Browne has completed his gruelling challenge of rowing from New York to Galway, becoming the first person ever to do so.
He arrived in Galway for an official homecoming this afternoon, with hundreds of spectators waiting at the port to cheer him on.
Browne waved a flare as he was driven into the port to a hero’s welcome after 112 days at sea.
Browne’s journey began at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan on Tuesday, 14 June, and Browne rowed over 3,450 nautical miles.
His epic journey ended last night in rather precarious circumstances shortly before 1 am when he was forced ashore on the rocks at Furbo Beach, just short of the Port of Galway.
He said in an Instagram video today that, as he was passing Inis Oirr, he was hit by “the ferocity of the wind that was blowing between that island and the County Clare coastline.
“No matter how much I fought, I could not get the boat to stay in a westerly approach to Galway Bay.”
He said he thought he could change course and land at the coastal town of Spiddal instead, but quickly realised this wouldn’t be possible either.
He then broke an oar and started to drift towards rocks.
Browne contacted the Project Empower land support officer Chris Martin, who in turn contacted the relevant emergency services who mobilised immediately.
First on the scene were Garda Micheál Ó Ráinne, Garda Vincent Kelly, and Garda Eoin O’Malley.
They found Browne on the rocks and helped him to safety.
Browne and The Project Empower team have expressed their gratitude to the Gardaí and the Emergency First Responders.
Those wishing to donate can do so by following this link.
It’s not the first time Browne has completed a mammoth rowing feat, with the former rugby player previously undertaking an epic solo row across the Atlantic.
Flower of Scotland should be way up that list. It’s a belter
@James Beattie: Agreed. It’d be my number 1, followed by La Marseillaise.
Ireland’s Call ? pure undiluted Muck .
Ireland’s Call is an embarrassment. Shockingly bad songwriting from the normally great Mr Coulter.
@JusticeForJoe: agreed.. technically not a national anthem either
@Fi Harte: not even technically
@JusticeForJoe: Fully agree with you.
Flower of Scotland all day long for me.
Ireland’s Call is not our, or any nation’s, national anthem. If our national team is playing they should play their own national anthem.
@Boyne Sharky: because its.not just our (Republic) national team, its a team representing the whole island.
@Barry Sorensen: We have our 32 counties represent Ireland in other sports and they use our national anthem and national flag of Ireland.
@Daniel Roche: which sports?
@OnlyHereForTheComments: Shinty-Hurling International Series, international football series.
Ireland’s Call is the worst thing to happen to the country since the Black and Tans
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau is class.
The irish one is awful.. It More like a hoot for school boys.
The Italian one is like from a great opera. Except that it needs trained classical voices to sing and not the fans dog howling..
The Welsh one is beautiful and a billion times better then the dreadful tone deaf irish one.
Flower of Scotland should be number 2.
Ireland s call is the best we got.better than Danny boy which would put the players to sleep or 4 green fields and certainly better than the rose of Tralee. Why not the old reliable fields of athenry. We all love that one
@Michael Murray: Nothing wrong with our national anthem.
Ireland’s call is a bit cringey why not Danny boy instead
@John Byrne: Maybe cause it was written by a English man that never set foot in Ireland or maybe it’s a crap song and our national anthem is way better and should only be use for Ireland games.
@Daniel Roche: Amhrán na bhFiann is a shocking song
@John Byrne: if you think Danny boy is a great song,I’m more than happy with our national anthem.
@John Byrne: but still our National Anthem. Point missed.
@Daniel Roche: was the man not from derry who wrote this song ?
@Lee Ridley: no.
@Lee Ridley: Nope. The guy who wrote Ireland’s call, Phil Coulter, is from Derry. Danny Boy’s original title was the Londonderry Air.
I’d have both Irish anthems in 5th & 6th
Sorry, while Flower of Scotland is a good rousing anthem, the fact that it says of the English “proud Edward’s army sent them homewards to think again”.
We’ll, a few years ago, they had a chance to send them homewards without having to left a finger in the independence referendum but chose not to. So the sentiments in “Flower of Scotland ” have rung somewhat hollow ever since!
I wonder if Cork had got a mention in Irelands Call would it be a more likeable in general.
I love it.
@Brian Farrell: No,I’m fairly sure they just don’t like it like the majority of this country.
Flower of Scotland is even worse than Ireland’s call. I’d rate the Welsh anthem after the French and Italian, and above the other three
When Flower of Scotland is played in Murrayfield against England, you would almost feel like jumping on the next plane and invading England yourself! Ireland’s call was made to win awards – not to be sung by burly Irish rugby players! They had a great chance to have a rousing going into battle anthem and instead it’s more like a lament!
What drugs are ye on and can I have some??
ireland’s call is an unremarkable turd, god save the queen an honourable second to the marseillaise
Eimear Considine’s point about the key change in Ireland’s call is valid. When you are not musically trained it can lead to horrendous results. La Marseillaise which has 2 key changes is regularly destroyed by well-meaning French supporters and athletes.
have your say