Atlantic row bid by Tipperary father in memory of 'superhero ' Saoirse

A Clonmel man is set to take on a gruelling 5,000km transatlantic row in memory of his 13-year-old daughter who died from a heart condition earlier this year.

John O’Driscoll, from Highfield Grove and now based in Dublin, will take on the endurance test on December 12 with four friends.

In a profound act of love John will honour his daughter Saoirse and her short but beautiful life.
Last April the O’Driscoll family experienced unimaginable heartbreak when Saoirse passed away, just days after being accepted into the emergency transplant list- a lifeline that, heartbreakingly, came too late for her.
Their mission is to raise €250,000 for children born with congenital heart disease (CHD) and raise awareness of the importance of organ donation.

The funds raised will be given to Heart Children Ireland and the Children’s Heart Centre in Crumlin children’s hospital.
For John this challenge holds profound personal significance.
His daughter Saoirse was born with congenital heart disease.

John called Saoirse his “superhero” for the way she faced her battle with resilience, bravery and full of grace.
“Her life was fraught with danger every day and for me to take on the unpredictable stormy waters of the Atlantic is a way to mirror the struggles Saoirse, and so many other children with CHD, faced with quiet courage every day,” said John (pictured above).
Before she passed away Saoirse carried out a tremendous amount of work to help others and was a passionate advocate for Heart Children Ireland, raising over €460,000 through her initiatives which included producing charity calenders to participating in the 40th anniversary of the Dublin City Marathon.
Most recently,Saoirse embarked on a new venture by founding her own business, Do Chroi.

As its founder and CEO, her primary goal was to develop a line of clothing and organic treatments aimed at assisting young individuals like herself in coping with the challenges of living with life-changing illnesses or disabilities. In true Saoirse fashion, her plan was that all profits generated by the business would be donated to charity.
After Saoirse passed away the family,John, his wife Aoife and son Riain were faced with a heart-wrenching decision.
They decided to proceed with the plans for the transatlantic row that preparations began for in 2022.
The family are fully committed to making a lasting impact in her name, providing hope to families of children with CHD and raising vital funds to support those in need.

Home town support for Tipperary man taking on huge challenge in memory of his daughter

Every stroke across the Atlantic will honour Saoirse’s memory ensuring her legacy continues to touch lives and make a difference.
John and the other members of the Power of One team taking on the challenge in memory of Saoirse are funding the entire expedition themselves to ensure that every cent they raise goes directly to these crucial charities. Along with John O’Driscoll, Conor McCarthy, Daragh Kelly, Enda McNicholas, and Roger McMorrow make up the Team of One unit that will row from San Sebastian de La Gomera,Spain to Antigua as part of the worlds toughest row.