Two British kayakers are paddling around Ireland in a handmade skin-on-frame canoe to raise funds for two charities.
Rich Ensoll (56) and Johan Hoving (47) are currently off the Sligo coast, having set out from Crosshaven marina in Cork on July 1st.
If successful, they believe they will be the first paddlers on record to navigate the entire coastline of Ireland in a handmade, skin-on-frame canoe.
They aim to raise funds for Oxfam Ireland to support its work in tackling poverty and injustice.
They are also raising money for the Kepplewray Trust’s Participation and Inclusion Fund – the trust being a Lake District outdoor education centre in England, which helps people of all abilities to participate in outdoor activities.
“Canoeing Round Ireland is a hopeful exercise on slowing down, embracing the unknown, and reconnecting with nature to raise funds for impactful causes,” Ensoll, who is senior lecturer in outdoor studies at the University of Cumbria, says.
“We will do our very best to weather choppy seas to do our part in making the world a better place.”
Their vessel, named Ronan, was constructed in Ireland by John Wilkinson of Valkyrie Craft. They say that the design “echoes the currach, once a vital link between coastal communities and a symbol of resilience and exploration”.
Hoving, a dynamic outdoor expert, said he joined without hesitation, describing it as “a chance to do something extraordinary and meaningful that only a privileged few can even try”.
"This journey is a beautiful reminder of how powerful community can be when paired with courage,”Oxfam Ireland chief executive Jim Clarken said.
“ We’re incredibly grateful to Rich and Johan for choosing to support Oxfam Ireland in such a unique and inspiring way. Their adventure speaks to the heart of what our organisation strives to stand for - resilience, solidarity, and hope for a better future,”he said.
The pair say that as they “paddle, sail (and occasionally nap) in their canoe”, they will share their journey through an online blog.
Donations can be made at this link here
And their blog is here
