Gavan brought grandad's Mayo football medal on epic Atlantic challenge
A GALWAY man with strong Castlebar connections has made history.
Thirty-five-year-old Gavan Hennigan last night (Wednesday) rowed his way into the record books.
He became the fastest solo competitor in the history of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.
He pulled into Antigua's English Harbour after a punishing 3,000-mile journey across the ocean in a time of 49 days, 11 hours and 37 minutes.
It meant he also smashed the record for the quickest Atlantic crossing by an Irish rower, beating the previous best by Sean McGowan by 69 days.
Gavan is a grandson of the late John and Phyllis Egan, well known residents of Newport Road, Castlebar.
His mother, Julie, is John and Phyllis's daughter. Sadly, his dad, Paul Hennigan, a Galway native, passed away last year.
John Egan was an accomplished footballer in the 1930s and 1940s and, in a touching gesture of remembrance and respect, his history-making grandson wore John's 1932 Mayo senior championship medal pinned to his rowing gear during the epic adventure.
(Pictured below is his grandfather's 1932 Mayo senior championship medal, which Gavan carried with him as his lucky charm).
An exhausted Gavan had this to say at the end of his journey: “I’m so proud to have done this. Not many Irish have attempted a solo row across the Atlantic and I feel I've done it in style.
'I had so many messages of support. I’d get up some days and I’d be struggling but when I read the positivity in those notes and comments... from complete strangers... that would motivate me to get back on the oars and do it for them. To do it for Ireland.
'This has been a life-changing experience. I’ve experienced the beauty of the Atlantic sunsets and sunrises, the thrill of open ocean row boat surfing, the despair of driving headwinds, and the joy of arriving back on land today. For the past 49 days I’ve had one single goal. To live life. I’ve embraced every minute and I’m so happy to be here finally.I'd like to thank Talisker and Atlantic campaigns for giving me the opportunity to make this journey. I'll never forget it.”
Gavan is raising money for Cancer Care West and Jigsaw and people can donate on his website www.gavanhennigan.com.