About Us

Instructors

Jim Morrissey. Sea kayaking guide and owner of Kayakmór

Jim started paddling in 1979 after joining Dollymount Sea Scouts on the Bull Island in Dublin Bay. Drawn to kayaking in particular he soon discovered marathon racing.

Jim has a National Diploma in Outdoor leadership from the Shackleton Outdoor Pursuits course and spent time working as an outdoor pursuits instructor in adventure centres. While studying marine science in Plymouth University, Jim was a core member of Plymouth University kayak Club, active in white water touring, marathon racing, sea kayaking in south Devon and kayak surfing in Cornwall.

Jim returned to Ireland in late 1990s. With Lough Corrib and River Corrib as his training base he embarked on a longterm commitment to racing at high level in the various paddling disciplines of marathon, ultra marathon, sea kayak racing, surf-ski racing and Wild water racing. Since then, Jim has represented Ireland on numerous occasions racing in UK, Europe, and South Africa, including 3 marathon world championships. Notable successes have been winning the 200km Arctic sea kayak race in 2001 and a three in a row victory in the non stop 125 mile Devizes to Westminster Race (UK). In 1998 Jim was part of a 3 man team to lower the Irish Sea crossing record to 11 hours 6 minutes.

Jim advocates kayaking as a perfect sport for all ages, and cites the benefits of meeting people, maintaining fitness, travel, and expansion of paddling horizons as motivation to bring the kayaking experience to others. The unspoilt water resources of County Galway and surrounding counties, both sea and inland, offer a myriad of choices of ideal paddling locations, awaiting discovery.

Portraits by Ben Quigueneur