Ireland rugby coach Joe Schmidt will be the special guest at a dinner hosted by former Connacht Rugby star Damian Browne to raise funds for his Atlantic Challenge chosen charities.
Joining Joe Schmidt will be former Lions defence coach, who is now currently with Ireland, Andy Farrell, and former Ireland and Munster player Alan Quinlan.
The three will speak at the Atlantic Challenge Dinner will takes place on Saturday September 30 in The Ardilaun hotel, Galway, in aid of Browne’s chosen charities MADRA Dog Rescue and Adoption, Médecins Sans Frontieres, and the Strong Roots Foundation School Rwanda.
The event presents a rare opportunity to hear Schmidt and Farrell speak about their experiences and lessons from the game with former Ireland player Alan Quinlan. In addition a special auction will take place, with the opportunity to will play a round of golf with Ireland outhalf Johnny Sexton.
A event will kick off with a with a champagne reception, followed by a four-course dinner, and entertainment by a variety of performers, including Sean Costello and Frank Naughton’s Duo Vocis.
Browne, the former rugby player now turned adventurer, is currently preparing for the toughest toughest solo rowing challenge across the Atlantic Ocean, which starts this December.
The 4,800km crossing begins in the Canary Islands and finishes in Antigua, testing the mental and physical capacities of all the rowers, and more particularly solo competitors, taking in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.
Since retiring from a 16-year rugby career in Connacht, Northampton, Leinster and Onnayax, Browne turned to travel and adventure - last year competing in the Marathon des Sables in the Moroccan Sahara.
Speaking about the challenge, Browne says he wants to test himself mentally and physically in the world’s most extreme environments.
“These experiences are incredibly powerful and rewarding, giving you windows into the corners of yourself you very rarely, if ever, get to see. The main challenge with the row will be the mental battle, it’s what interests me the most.
“As well as pushing myself physically and mentally with the transatlantic row, I wanted to push myself in my fundraising efforts and have a campaign to mirror the challenge of the row. The Atlantic Challenge Dinner will be the feature piece of my charity fundraising campaign with 100 per cent of the funds raised on the night going directly to my three charity partners MADRA, Médecins Sans Frontieres and the Strong Roots Foundation School Rwanda.”
Tickets for the Atlantic Challenge Dinner are available by contacting Catherine Tiernan on 086-254 6936 .
