Big Dream, Little Boat is the brilliant title for Kevin O’Sullivan’s book, just published by Liffey Press, on his circumnavigation of Ireland solo by kayak.
The retired Aer Lingus pilot, who has been very involved with the sea scouts in his north Dublin home of Skerries, dedicates the book to his late friend Mark Murphy, who died in February 2016.
Kayaker Kevin O'Sullivan visited Kerry's Great Blasket on his circumnavigation
Murphy had famously encouraged his upcoming adventure with the words “just start”.
Kevin O'Sullivan's Rockpool Tirana which was specially made for the voyage and with Skerries scout colours
O’Sullivan spoke to Wavelengths on the banks of the river Corrib in Galway. He first recalled what made him decide to “just start”, and how he benefited from the kindness of friends and strangers, also battling seasickness, unexpected winds and mountainous swells, as he traversed some of the more hostile sections of the Irish coastline.
Kayaker Kevin O'Sullivan at Malin Coast Guard station with (left to right) Manus Patten and Danny Farren
Solo round Ireland kayaker Kevin O'Sullivan leaves Kilbaha, south Clare, to round Loop Head for Kilkee
Listen to the Wavelengths podcast with Kevin O'Sullivan below:
Big Dream Little Boat: A Kayaker’s Journey Around Ireland by Kevin O’Sullivan has 175 colour photographs and 12 of his own beautifully hand-drawn maps. It is available in all good bookshops or directly from publishers Liffey Press at 21.95 euro.
