Chris Crossing: Gardaí set for Dublin-Holyhead charity row

A team of Garda novice rowers is to attempt a crossing of the Irish Sea from Dublin Port to Holyhead during the summer.

The “Chris Crossing”, which will raise money for the National Neurological Centre at Beaumont Hospital, is being undertaken in memory of Chris Byrne, who died of a brain tumour last month.

Mr Byrne’s wife Caroline is a garda based at Store Street station. The fundraising row to Wales was her late husband’s ambition and it is now being carried forward by Caroline’s colleagues.

The 12 gardaí are all novices who have committed to a strenuous training regime in preparation for the 12- to 15-hour crossing. The crossing is to take place in late May/early June, depending on the weather.

Celebrity list

The group will stage an on-street rowing demonstration on Grafton Street and Henry Streets on Saturday, April 30th, and have invited a top secret list of celebrities to join them.

Well-known faces who show on the day will be asked to row the equivalent of 500 metres as part pf a Top Gear-themed time challenge, with all names listed on a leader board.

Participants will also raise money through a bucket collection at Aviva Stadium before the Ireland vs Holland match on May 29th.

Speaking at a launch for the event in the Garda depot in the Phoenix Park on Thursday, Sgt Ken Hoare said none of the team had “any real experience of rowing, let alone sea rowing, so we aren’t undertaking this lightly”.

Whatever about the physical challenges, he said, the “real challenge” would be to meet the €50,000 fundraising target.

The group is asking people to text Beaumont to 50300 to make a €4 donation, or to make a donation online at beaumontfundraising.ie