Tipperary father to row across the Atlantic in memory of 'superhero' daughter who died of rare illness
Taoiseach Simon Harris on the steps of Government Buildings with John O’Driscoll, father of Saoirse O’Driscoll who passed away from congenital heart disease (CHD) and his fellow crew members, Conor McCarthy, Enda McNicholas, Roger McMorrow and Daragh Kelly as the five men prepare to row 5,000 km across the Atlantic in an effort to raise funds in Saoirse’s memory. Picture: Robbie Reynolds
A Tipperary father of a teenager who passed away from a rare illness is preparing to “face the unknown” by rowing for 5,000kms over five weeks across the Atlantic in memory of his daughter.
John O’Driscoll from Highfield Grove, Clonmel, who now lives in Dublin, will join four others, called team Power of 1 on a gruelling journey which will see them rowing all the way to Antigua from Tenerife at Christmas.
The fundraiser, which has been in the planning stages for two years, comes following the tragic passing of his daughter Saoirse, aged 13.
The young girl had battled a congenital heart disease (CHD) all her life, after she was diagnosed with the condition at her 20-week scan.
The funds raised will go to Children’s Health Ireland Heart Centre in Crumlin Children’s hospital. Already the team has raised €231,495.
Mr O’Driscoll, who will leave Ireland on December 1, six days before his daughter’s 14th birthday said he has “no idea of the mental struggles” he will face at sea but is ready physically.
“God love the guys I’m going with,” he said. “It will be my first Christmas without Saoirse, my first away from home.
“Saoirse had half a heart, so going to school, taking a shower, a walk, she couldn’t do all of those things easily, so for me crossing an ocean, that was her life every day.
"So, if I can do this for her, and show her me, an average man from Clonmel who is not a rower, can take on this extreme challenge for her, I could be her hero, she could say ‘my dad did this for me’."
Mr O’Driscoll will join Conor McCarthy, Daragh Kelly, Roger McMorrow and Enda McNicholas, on the voyage. Starting on December 12, 2024, in Tenerife they will row 5,000kms across the Atlantic Ocean.
They will race from the volcanic shores of San Sebastian de La Gomera, Spain, to the paradise of Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua. Their mission was to raise €250,000, a target that has already been met, so they have increased it to €500,000.
Mr O’Driscoll described his daughter as a “blessing from the start” and said both he and his wife Aoife and their 10-year-old son Riain “cherished every moment” as a family.
“We were a happy home, we were always playing games, having fun and joking,” he said. “Saoirse was a very funny girl; she loved to laugh but she was so full of empathy and thought things out so much.
“After her passing Aoife said there is an opportunity to do something really good and to consider going ahead with the row.
“Saoirse wanted the simple things in life, and her main wish was to be a mother. She was placed on the transplant list while in Crumlin and sadly, died a week after.
“Her brother is struggling, it’s important to remember that the charities we are helping provide psychological support not just to a sick child like Saoirse but for siblings and families.”
Fellow rower and Cork man Conor McCarthy said the team will be there to support John during this voyage. “We will fly to Tenerife and hopefully arrive in Antigua about 35 days later” he said.
“Our families will be at the starting line and we hope to see them all in Antigua. We will make the most of it. We are spending Christmas away from our families, it’s a rare thing in life to be able to do and for such a good cause.”
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