Since I was a young man, whenever I faced difficulties, I would always turn to the sea for comfort and clarity. During one of the first lockdowns, while immersed in the water, I began to wonder if others experienced the same sense of healing and renewal as I did, and how it might influence their lives more broadly. This curiosity inspired me to create The Ripple Effect Ireland—an Instagram page where people could share why they swam and how it impacted their lives. My hope was that these stories would inspire others who were struggling to give sea swimming a try and ultimately feel better.

The page grew steadily year after year, and this sparked the idea of organising sea swimming meet-ups. These gatherings aimed to connect people who felt isolated or had lost swim partners during the colder months. Thankfully, they were a great success. However, I noticed a glaring gap: very few men attended, despite knowing how many were grappling with mental health challenges.

While running the Ripple Effect Ireland page, I came across a group called Blueballs Cornwall. I loved their mission—not just encouraging men to get into the sea, but creating a space for men to talk. I felt there was nothing quite like that in Dublin. Motivated by this, I approached two good friends, Jonathan Smith and Dean Smith (no relation), to explore starting something similar. I had met both of them through sea swimming, further proof of the sea’s incredible power to bring people together.

They were equally enthusiastic, and in November 2022, Blueballs Ireland was born. Even on that cold, dark night, when 20 men turned up for our first gathering, we knew we were onto something special. Since then, the group has grown beyond anything we could have imagined.

Alongside sea swimming, another transformative experience in my life was joining Pat Divilly’s Basecamp men’s programme. This online community held weekly check-ins, covering topics like shadow work, shame, and, most importantly, the power of listening to other men’s stories. Inspired by this, I was eager to recreate a similar environment within our group. That’s why hosting events—whether at Offgrid in Bray or Jonathan’s café, Ernesto’s, in Rathmines—has been such a core part of our mission.

Through organising these events, observing guest facilitators, and my own journey as part of the Basecamp programme, I’ve gained invaluable insight. This path of personal development ultimately led me to become an accredited Mindset Coach—something I’m passionate about incorporating into future events.

I truly believe in what we’re building here. If we can encourage even one man to take the brave step of showing up for a swim, hike, or men’s circle, it could be the catalyst that changes the trajectory of his life—perhaps even saving it..