Cork woman: I’m rowing 564 nautical miles, over eight days - Scotland to Norway for Marymount

KAY Murphy sometimes looks in the mirror and asks herself ‘why?’

“Why am I rowing from Inverness Scotland to Norway later this month?

“Why am I training six days a week, clocking up between 70km and 90km a week rowing in the water?”

“Why do I give up my Sundays to row 30km to 40km?

“Why do I walk for miles and do regular Pilates sessions and clock even more mileage up on the rowing machine?”

The face looking back at Kay from the mirror knows exactly why.

“I’m doing the row from Scotland to Norway for Marymount Hospice,” says Kay.

She flies to Scotland on July 13 and begins her rowing odyssey, over 546 nautical miles, on July 15.

“Marymount is close to my heart,” says Kay.

“Everyone knows someone who had a connection with the hospice, and I know someone who works there looking after cancer patients and their families. 

A close relative of mine was looked after very well at Marymount.

All of Cork city and county knows someone who has benefitted from the wonderful care and the unwavering support offered at Marymount Hospice.

That’s why the 252 volunteers who freely give of their time to Marymount Hospice, do so.

“Why I volunteer is because when you arrive here, you just get sucked in,” says Frank Peyton, from Ballintemple. He meets and greets people at Marymount, mans the reception, and escorts patients to hospital appointments.

“I am on first- name with all the patients,” says Frank. “We are all like one big happy family.”

Kay belongs to Passage West Coastal Rowing Club, who form another family close to her heart.

“I love being one of the crew at the club and we all have a shared love of rowing and being in the water.”

Kay, the mother of three daughters and who has nine grandchildren, is supporting the “big happy family” that is Marymount, undertaking a huge expedition, one of a team of 12, rowing from Scotland to Norway. The journey will take eight days to complete.

“I grew up near the water and I always loved living near the water,” says Kay, who turns 59 this July.

“Looking out our window at home, you could only see water.

“We all had a fun time by the sea and swimming in the sea. 

The water was always my passion.

Kay is always there for the long haul.

“I often do an island hop, maybe 8km. I row to different locations; over to Mahon Point for instance. I wanted to row the Atlantic and this row from Scotland to Norway is a compromise for me.”

Kay has endurance and she has determination.

“I wouldn’t give up on that idea just yet!” says Kay laughing.

“I wouldn’t write it off. The Atlantic still beckons.”

“I’ve always wanted to do a marathon in the water.

The Atlantic is still on the bucket list!

Why would she go through the hardship and the pain of doing a marathon in the water?

“Yes, it can be painful, but I will go through it,” says Kay.

“Scotland to Norway can be likened to a marathon.”

Kay is no stranger to the sea.

“I feel at home in the water, and I can spend hours out rowing in the sea. I am at home in the water. My social life is rowing.”

Why?

“I find rowing relaxing and a really good way to release energy,” says Kay.

She loves the freedom and tranquility of her surroundings when she’s rowing.

“I love the freedom of it,” says Kay.

“I love the feeling of feeling fit and when I took part in the Ocean to City sailing event this year; I found my fitness and endurance levels really stood to me.”

Kay, like many of us, loved to party in her youth.

“I row now like I used to party!” says Kay laughing.

“At 36 I gave up drinking and smoking. I got into fitness, and I put all my energies into it. I found that very satisfying.”

Kay, who married her childhood sweetheart, Martin, at 17, went back studying, sitting her Leaving Cert at age 36.

“And then I did a parent mentoring course in UCC with Tony Humpreys.”

No wonder her husband, daughters and grandchildren are so proud of her.

“Kay loves rowing, and she is well able and very capable,” says Martin, who sailed a yacht to the Caribbean in 2002.

I am very proud of her.

Kay is a tough cookie.

“The training is tough,” says Martin.

“It is very hard, but Kay has a target, and she will grasp it and reach it. The success of her upcoming mission rowing from Scotland to Norway certainly won’t be for the want of trying.”

The sea is home-from-home for Kay.

“Kay is not happy unless she’s in the water,” says Martin.

“And she is delighted to be able to support Marymount Hospice. It is such a good cause.”

The sea can be friend or foe.

“The North Sea is unpredictable,” Martin admits.

“The Irish Sea can be tough, throwing up unexpected winds.

“So taking any chances is not an option. There will be two very experienced rowers on the boat along with the novice rowers.

“The team of 12 on the boat will rotate. Six rowing for three hours, then the other six taking over for three hours.”

Other challenges will surface during the eight-day sea-faring trip.

“The cabins are small, and the toilet facilities won’t be up to much,” says Martin.

“It’ll be a case of bucket and chuck it!”

Kay is ready to go.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” says Kay.

“I love to have a challenge. The training keeps me going, keeps me motivated.”

Kay has a can-do attitude.

“I know that I can complete the row from Scotland to Norway with the team,” says Kay.

I’ve put in the training, and I feel very fit.

She feels she knows exactly why she is taking on this amazing feat to raise awareness and vital funds for Marymount Hospice.

“Yes, even though I often question why I eat, sleep and think about rowing all the time: doing the Scotland to Norway trip for Marymount makes it all worthwhile,” says Kay.

When Kay looks in the mirror, she has her ‘why’.

“I know why I’m taking this on,” says Kay, who is a tough cookie.

“It’ll be tough but I’m going for it!”

“He who has a why can bear almost any how.” (Friedrich Nietzche).