Gearoid Towey
World Champion Rower/Olympian / Adventurer

Gearoid Towey is a world champion and two time Olympian in the sport of rowing. Towey most recently caught our attention when he and Ciaran Lewis competed in the Trans Atlantic rowing race and had to be rescued after capsizing in Force 8 storm conditions. He has been on the Irish rowing team since the age of sixteen and has enjoyed a career with many victories on the world stage, the highlights being a world championship victory in 2001 with Tony O Connor, two bronze medals with Sam Lynch and a host of world cup and international regatta victories along the way. He also became Australian Champion in 2001 having spent the winter there after the Sydney Olympic games.

Even with such remarkable successes at the age of 28, Towey has experienced a number of setbacks, one injury left him without the use of his arm for 3 months and only with intensive rehabilitation and self belief did he manage to make it back onto the world scene.

His path to success has involved many twists and turns but each negative he encountered was used as a positive in some form or another. He has worked within many different teams, most of which have achieved world success. His experience in teamwork and the need for each individual to be as strong as possible within the team is something he relates to the corporate world.

He is also an adventurer and recently competed in the Trans Atlantic rowing race. After 40 days at sea, living under extreme pressure with lack of sleep, hurricanes, and extreme exhaustion, he and his partner Ciaran Lewis capsized in a force 8 storm which destroyed their boat. They had to abandon to their life raft and were rescued in the middle of the night by a gas tanker. Their calmness under pressure was well documented by the national media and Gearoid puts it down to preparation. In order to take on any challenge he believes that every base needs to be covered

The Atlantic challenge involved a high level of project management, more teamwork, crisis management and will power all in one of the most extreme environments known to man. Most of all it involved living a dream and doing whatever it took to fulfil it.

Alongside this, Gearoid is also an expedition racer, which involves races of 5 days or more over extreme terrain on foot, bicycles, kayaks, swimming and climbing with out more than 3 hours sleep in the five days. He competed on the Irish team in the Red Bull Giants of Rio de Janiero Adventure Challenge in December 2004.

He and Lewis are currently writing a book about their adventures at sea and their close brush with disaster. He is also preparing for another Olympic assault in Beijing 2008 and is training as part of the Irish rowing team once again. He has a keen interest in the arts and experiencing different cultures through travelling, and working for his charities, Irish Cancer Society and Merchants Quay Ireland.

Gearoid is an ideal speaker for conferences, management and sales, team building exercises, breakfast and lunch briefings and after dinner.

Testimonial
The culture espoused and lived by ESB International is one that seeks to promote a “can do” attitude in the face of significant commercial challenges. This culture looks to staff and management to stand up and be counted as individuals but within a strong team ethic. Towey has clearly demonstrated this in his life. His accomplishments are there to be seen by all. However his real skill lies in his outstanding ability to communicate the steadfastness and tenacity, commitment to oneself and others, dedication to hard work and the requirement to set goals that are necessary to secure the ultimate satisfaction that is the “joy of achieving and of being successful”. This is communicated by Towey in a manner that is by no means aggressive, “in your face” or smacking of machismo. In fact it the lack these that people find motivational and attractive, and as such leave them with a strong impression and belief that they too can achieve that something extra in both their personal and work lives.
Andy Kinsella, Executive Director, ESB International

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