Galway dad sails length of country’s waterways for Hospice

A 65-year-old Kinvara resident is currently making his way down the country in a rowboat crafted by his own hands – all to raise funds for Galway Hospice and to commemorate the friend who spurred him on to build it.

Joe Mc Caul set off from Belleek in County Fermanagh on Monday, aiming to reach Limerick by the end of the month – completing the 350km of the Shannon/Erne waterway.

Not only will Joe be raising much-needed funds for Galway Hospice, but he’s also rowing in memory of the friend who encouraged him to realise his dream of building a boat, as Joe explained before he set off.

“This all began in Green’s Pub in Kinvara. I was with my friend Joe Stewart and I just mentioned to him that I’d love to build a boat someday, and he said, ‘why don’t we do it’.

“It took four weeks to build the boat, but that wasn’t until after Joe sadly passed away,” he said.

Built with a bit of help from Joe Stewart’s nephew, ‘Joe’s Boat’ is currently edging its way towards the border with the North with just Joe in it – determined to brave all elements and make it to Limerick by the month’s end.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.