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Kayaking Pals Return to Drogheda After Epic Round-Ireland Adventure

4th August 2025
Richard Skelly and Damien Hamill rounded the island of Ireland by kayak in 48 days on the water
Richard Skelly and Damien Hamill rounded the island of Ireland by kayak in 48 days on the water Credit: richard_skelly on Instagram

Two friends have joined an elite group of just over 100 people who have circumnavigated the island of Ireland by kayak.

Richard Skelly and Damien Hamill returned to Drogheda in late July having kayaked around the coast in 48 days on the water.

“Damien and I decided over a bottle of Guinness that we would make this trip and we shook hands on it,” Skelly tells the Drogheda Independent about the spark for their 1,650km adventure.

The duo — Skelly from Drogheda and Hamill from Downpatrick, Co Down — set out from the Boyne Fishermen’s Rescue and Recovery Service base in early June.

Expectedly the experience “wasn’t all plain sailing”, Skelly says, adding that “it was a bit hairy at times”.

“We came across some big swells along the west coast but then again, what do you expect when you are in the wild Atlantic?”

The Drogheda Independent has more on the story HERE.

Published in Kayaking
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