Ballyferriter adventurer celebrates 80 years a growing
First man to row around Ireland in a naomhóg recalls momentous voyage
There were celebrations in Gorta Dubh, Ballyferriter on Wednesday (January 30th) as the first man to circumnavigate the Irish Coast in a man-made 'Naomhóg' celebrated eighty years a-growing.
Family and friends gathered to pay tribute to local hero Ger Ó'Cióbháin who entered the history books on the 29th of June 1975 when left his home in Ballyferriter in a Naomhóg to row 1,200 miles around the Irish Coast, completing the momentous task in six weeks and six days arriving home on the 12th of August. As he celebrated his eightieth birthday, Ger recalls the amazing adventure of his youth as if it were yesterday.
"From Kerry I travelled northwards facing into the Atlantic" said Ger. "The seas around Mayo were tough but from growing up in West Kerry I knew the seas and I knew what to expect" he said.
He made his way around the coasts of Donegal and Antrim and down into the Irish sea towards Dublin, where he encountered busy traffic around the ports and around Rosslare where he passed the ferry that crosses the Irish sea.
"I had made my plans and was able to manoeuvre around any ships or trawlers" said Ger, who travelled without the aid of a back-up vessel, pulling into various ports and harbours to rest. He pulled into a small harbour in Arklow, where a man from West Kerry (who had relocated to the area) was astonished to see a Naomhóg from his homeland pull into the harbour. "He said he thought he'd never see such a sight, a Naomhóg from Beál Bán pulling into Arklow!" said Ger.
The vessel which Ger travelled in was over thirteen years old and the Gorta Dubh man had to make any necessary repairs on leaks or cracks at sea. He also had to study the tides carefully before he went and his sea-faring knowledge came into play when dealing with unexpected changes in the weather.
"The sea doesn't give you a second chance so you had to be on the ball" said Ger.
"Some people thought I was mad at the time, but I did it to show I wasn't mad and that it could be done. If you set your mind to anything it can be achieved."
The trip made national news at the time and his five children and wife Bridget, who looked after the family farm in his absense, listened to Ger's progress on the 'wireless' at home also reading about his journey in the national newspapers who looked after the family farm in his absence. "I had my first Naomhóg when I was eight and discovered I had a love of the sea in the blood" the eighty year old recalled. "It was in me, the sea was calling and I had to answer the call."
After coming around the coasts of Wexford, Waterford, Cork and the south coast of Kerry, Ger completed the amazing test of human endurance on the 12th of August when he pulled into Beál Bán near his home to a heroes welcome.
During the voyage, Ger had suffered a perforated ulcer and had to be rushed to hospital in Tralee. "After travelling around the coast of Ireland in a Naomhóg, it was only a small thing in comparison!" said the hardy sea-farer.
He went on the write a book about his experience, Cogarnach ar ár gCósta, which went on the become part of the Leaving Cert Syllabus.
Ger went on to publish a further three books, Bhí mo lá agam, Nár chlos ár namhaid and An Giorria san aer. It was the first and last time this amazing journey was completed and despite suffering from ill-health in recent years, Ger holds the memories of his voyage in his heart. "If something is calling to you then you must answer the call and be true to yourself" said the proud Kerry man.
"If its in your heart, go after it full steam there is no point in waiting because like the sea, time wait for nobody."
"You only have one chance in this life and you have to take it!" First man to row around Ireland in a naomhóg recalls momentous voyage
There were celebrations in Gorta Dubh, Ballyferriter on Wednesday (January 30th) as the first man to circumnavigate the Irish Coast in a man-made 'Naomhóg' celebrated eighty years a-growing.
Family and friends gathered to pay tribute to local hero Ger Ó'Cióbháin who entered the history books on the 29th of June 1975 when left his home in Ballyferriter in a Naomhóg to row 1,200 miles around the Irish Coast, completing the momentous task in six weeks and six days arriving home on the 12th of August. As he celebrated his eightieth birthday, Ger recalls the amazing adventure of his youth as if it were yesterday.
"From Kerry I travelled northwards facing into the Atlantic" said Ger. "The seas around Mayo were tough but from growing up in West Kerry I knew the seas and I knew what to expect" he said.
He made his way around the coasts of Donegal and Antrim and down into the Irish sea towards Dublin, where he encountered busy traffic around the ports and around Rosslare where he passed the ferry that crosses the Irish sea.
"I had made my plans and was able to manoeuvre around any ships or trawlers" said Ger, who travelled without the aid of a back-up vessel, pulling into various ports and harbours to rest. He pulled into a small harbour in Arklow, where a man from West Kerry (who had relocated to the area) was astonished to see a Naomhóg from his homeland pull into the harbour. "He said he thought he'd never see such a sight, a Naomhóg from Beál Bán pulling into Arklow!" said Ger.
The vessel which Ger travelled in was over thirteen years old and the Gorta Dubh man had to make any necessary repairs on leaks or cracks at sea. He also had to study the tides carefully before he went and his sea-faring knowledge came into play when dealing with unexpected changes in the weather.
"The sea doesn't give you a second chance so you had to be on the ball" said Ger.
"Some people thought I was mad at the time, but I did it to show I wasn't mad and that it could be done. If you set your mind to anything it can be achieved."
The trip made national news at the time and his five children and wife Bridget, who looked after the family farm in his absense, listened to Ger's progress on the 'wireless' at home also reading about his journey in the national newspapers who looked after the family farm in his absence. "I had my first Naomhóg when I was eight and discovered I had a love of the sea in the blood" the eighty year old recalled. "It was in me, the sea was calling and I had to answer the call."
After coming around the coasts of Wexford, Waterford, Cork and the south coast of Kerry, Ger completed the amazing test of human endurance on the 12th of August when he pulled into Beál Bán near his home to a heroes welcome.
During the voyage, Ger had suffered a perforated ulcer and had to be rushed to hospital in Tralee. "After travelling around the coast of Ireland in a Naomhóg, it was only a small thing in comparison!" said the hardy sea-farer.
He went on the write a book about his experience, Cogarnach ar ár gCósta, which went on the become part of the Leaving Cert Syllabus.
Ger went on to publish a further three books, Bhí mo lá agam, Nár chlos ár namhaid and An Giorria san aer. It was the first and last time this amazing journey was completed and despite suffering from ill-health in recent years, Ger holds the memories of his voyage in his heart. "If something is calling to you then you must answer the call and be true to yourself" said the proud Kerry man.
"If its in your heart, go after it full steam there is no point in waiting because like the sea, time wait for nobody."
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