At the age of fourteen the 'Asgard', a 51-foot sail-training gaff-rigged yacht, sailed into Limerick. My Father was asked to help pilot her down the Shannon. He brought me with him, a memory I will never forget, the power she had as she tacked down the Shannon on an out-going tide. Two years later, just before starting an apprenticeship as a cabinet-maker, my brother Jim and I sailed from Waterford to France and back on her, my first proper sea passage, another memory I will never forget. In 1976 I raced from Plymouth to Tenerife and in 1988 I completed the round Ireland race. I also raced a few of my own sailing boats, a 23′ timber yacht named “Outlaw“, an Elizabethan 29 and a yachting monthly half tonner I made in Ferrocement.
Two years later after leaving school, before starting an apprenticeship as a cabinet-maker, myself and my brother Jim sailed from Waterford to France and back on her. The river had moved into the back-seat after my first proper sea passage, another memory I will never forget.
During my younger years I followed the OSTAR, Golden Globe Race and other seagoing adventures while my father regaled us with stories of many great Irish explorers and adventurers including 'Brendan the Navigator', the first person to cross from Europe to America. (Christopher Columbus actually sent for his log before sailing to America nearly 1000 years later).
I also learned of Tom Crean, the Arctic Explorer. My father took me to visit the grave of Edward Conor Marshall O’Brien, born in Limerick on 3 November 1880. O’Brien’s boat ‘Saoirse‘ was the first small boat (42-foot) to sail around the world, rounding all capes; a journey that he documented in his book 'Across Three Oceans'. O'Brien's voyage began and ended at the Port of Foynes, County Limerick, Ireland, where he lived.
In 1976 I raced from Plymouth to Tenerife. In 1988 I completed the round Ireland race, and also the dinghy and cruiser racing. I had a few sailing boats. A 23′ timber yacht named “Outlaw“, an Elizabethan 29 and a yachting monthly half tonner I made in Ferrocement. I enjoyed them all.
In 1990 I moved to Ballyferriter in Co.Kerry to go to sea as a fisherman. A fantastic job, one of the last of the hunter gatherers. Over the winters I saw the power of the North Atlantic. In 1992 I went to Iceland and purchased a 126′ fishing boat, named ‘Bylgja‘, passing through the Arctic Circle whilst rounding Iceland’s North Westerly Cape Horn on our way home. Another good memory as the Northern lights gave us a show that night.
As a fisherman, I have seen the amount of rubbish coming up from the bottom of the deep ocean, and am eager to get the message out, about the unnecessary use of Plastic. My wife Rita and myself live in Ballyferriter. Our children, Catherine, Tony & Helen are settled close to us and Deirdre is only up the road in Limerick, I am lucky to have a caring and supportive family.

In 1986, at the age of 60, my father sailed solo across the Atlantic to Newport, Rhode Islandin a 28 foot yacht 'Iniscealtra'. The following year he sailed from Newport back to Limerick. Two years later, on his first attempt to sail around the world, he was rescued 1,200 miles west of Capetown by a Norwegian freight ship, having suffered storm damage, and the loss of his yacht. The following year he set off on a second attempt, in a 32 foot yacht 'Loon', which was abandoned in Brazil after storm damage.
Pat had the boat shipped back to Ireland the following year and in 1993 attempted to sail around the world for a third time at the age of 67. Three years and three days later at the age of seventy, on the 23rd July of 1996, Pat successfully sailed back to Limerick, the first Irishman to complete a solo circumnavigation of the globe having lived and fulfilled his life-long dream. After he returned, we sailed together around the SW of Ireland and this was one of the few times he would open up about the hard side of being alone at sea for long periods. My father had (and still has) a huge influence on me. You can view my father's site here
I will sail the race in the spirit of my father.

My wife of 43 years, Rita, and I still live in Ballyferriter. Our children, Catherine, Tony & Helen are settled close to us and Deirdre is only up the road in Limerick, I am lucky to have acaring and supportive family.
A few months before the start of the GGR 2022 my wife Rita was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. A few months before the start of the GGR 2022 Rita was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. This is also why I am also raising money and awareness for Parkinson’s Association Ireland by sailing around the world solo and non-stop as part of the Golden Globe Race.