The Long Way Back
Stories in Motion
A Re-Imagining of Possibility
For most of his life, the water was where he felt most himself. Sailing, scuba diving and surfing were his hobbies, and they were part of who he was. Then he lost his leg, and the sea he loved seemed to belong to another life. He was certain the door to watersports had closed for good.
When Clare Sports Partnership got in touch, something began to shift. ESF+ Officer Conor Mahon sat down with him and asked about the things he used to love. It didn't take long to see how much the water had meant to him, and how much he had been missing it.
Catching Waves Again
Conor gently encouraged him to think about getting back in the water. He wasn't sure at first. He had surfed before, but the thought of returning without his leg was daunting and left him feeling apprehensive. But with Conor and Clare Local Sports Partnership behind him, he took the first step back in the water and up on a surf board again.
“I managed to get up on the board for the first time in years," he says. "Everyone has been fantastic.”
On the Water
For those watching from the shore, the moment he entered the water was deeply emotional. After years away, he was back where he belonged.
The story doesn't end with him. The local surf club now has a surfboard designed for people with physical impairments, so the sea is open to others too. And the benefits have followed him onto dry land: his balance has improved, and he can now hold a straight line when he walks.
“Watching him go into the water was an emotional moment for everyone there. Since then, the local surf club has acquired a surfboard for people with physical impairments, so the way back is open to others too. He says his balance has improved, and he can now keep a straight line when walking.”
About Sport4Empowerment
Sport4Empowerment is a national programme led by Sport Ireland that uses sport and physical activity to support social inclusion. Delivered by Local Sports Partnerships across Ireland and co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), the programme works alongside people who face barriers to participating in sport, ensuring their stories are shared with care, consent, and dignity.
This project is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.
"I was a bit reluctant to begin with. But in hindsight, it was the best thing for me."
"You need to have someone like Conor and Clare Sports Partnership behind you. Now that the surf club has a surfboard for physically impaired people, the sky's the limit. You might as well keep going as long as you can."
"It was really emotional seeing him go into the water for the first time. It was almost a spiritual moment, for him and for everyone witnessing it. You could see the emotion it brought out in him."
