Former Leinster rugby star Damian Browne has set foot on dry land for the first time in 112 days after successfully rowing from New York to Galway.
Browne became the first person ever to row from the 'Big Apple' to Galway having left Manhattan way back in June and has set a world record in the process. GalwayBeo reports that the 42-year-old made it all the way to Furbo Beach, but poor weather conditions meant he was unable to reach Galway Port.
Gardaí and first responders came to Browne's aid on the beach and helped the Galwegian make it safely back to his hometown. This morning, Browne was treated like a hero at a homecoming in Galway, with an estimated 5,000 people turning out in torrential rain to see their local hero.
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The former Leinster man finally set foot on solid ground at Furbo Beach early on Tuesday morning just before 1am. Once there, Damian immediately called Chris Martin, the Project Empower land support officer, who in turn contacted the relevant emergency services who rushed to the beach.
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 Cushlamachree on the rocks and helped Damian to safety.
Damian and The Project Empower team expressed their gratitude to the Gardaí and the Emergency First Responders “who looked after Damian so well”.
Damian is now reunited with his family and will celebrate this amazing achievement with the people of Galway later today.
His homecoming will take place in Galway Docks on Tuesday morning at 11am as the Project Empower team said he “is in good spirits and is very much looking forward to celebrating”.
Having left Chelsea Piers, Manhattan, on Tuesday June 14 at 03.10am (GMT + 1), Damian had spent almost 16 weeks or 112 days at sea, fighting Mother Nature every step of the way.
The journey, which has been entitled Project Empower, was part of a fundraising effort for four charitable organisations: National Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation, Ability West, Madra and The Galway Simon Community.
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