Navigating the entire length of the Grand Canyon is the theme of an illustrated talk by kayaker Jamie Donald in An Comhlacht Forbartha, An Ceardlann, An Spidéal on March 28th, 2025.
Hosted by Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil as part of the sailing club’s winter talks series, all proceeds will go toward the club’s relocation and development of its boat pen.
From a young age, Jamie Donald, who is currently club commodore, has been attracted to water. He learned to swim before he could walk. His kayaking friends will confirm that he still has a tendency to swim at awkward moments.
He discovered kayaking at a summer camp on the Liffey in Newbridge Co. Kildare in 1984.
Later that year he started boarding school at The Kings Hospital in Dublin where kayaking “came to the rescue again”. Many kayakers will admit that they started the sport because they weren't much good at other sports and Jamie says he “definitely falls into that bracket”.
King's Hospital school kayakers with Jamie Donald holding the paddle on the extreme right in the back row
Competitive marathon kayaking was his main discipline throughout his teens, but his eyes were opened to other activities and the wider world of adventure sports on a family holiday to Little Killary Adventure Centre, Co Galway, which introduced him to mountain and sea sports.
Moving to study in University College, Galway in 1990 opened up a lifetime of adventures for him. Trips to every corner of Ireland developed further into summer road trips to the Alps and winter adventures in Connemara, Mayo, Kerry, Wicklow, Wales and Scotland, hunting down white water with hiking , and with mountain biking “filling in the gaps” when the rivers weren't running.
Further white water, sea kayaking and climbing expeditions have followed and he has been on adventures to France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Canada, USA, New Zealand, Ecuador, Argentina, Kerry, Wicklow, Mayo …and a few other places.
However, Donald says that Cois Fharraige west of Galway city is “home” , and he notes that “we are spoiled by the depth and breadth of outdoor opportunities waiting for us on our doorstep”.
Last year, he was part of a Galway Kayak Club team which navigated the entire length of the Grand Canyon in the USA.
Setting out on April 3rd, 2024, they spent 21 days paddling from Lees Ferry to Pearce Ferry, a distance of 450 kilometres/280 miles.
Eachtránaithe inár Measc (Adventurers in our Midst) with Jamie Donald as part of Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil Winter Talks 2025 takes place in an Comhlacht Forbartha, An Ceardlann, An Spidéal, Co na Gaillimhe H91 FXE8 on Friday, March 28th, at 8 pm.
Tickets are available at the door from 7.15 pm
Adults: €5; Children: free
