Cork teen does charity row in memory of uncle lost in fishing tragedy

Kinsale teenager Joey Hurley was deeply affected when his uncle and godfather tragically died during his job as a fisherman.

Now he has completed a remarkable athletic feat in memory of Des Hurley, and to raise money for the RNLI - a duathlon in which he rowed a kayak and ran a long distance, which has raised €20,000.

“Joey was heartbroken when he lost Des, his uncle and godfather,” says Marion, Joey’s mother. 

They had a special bond, and they were incredibly close.

Joey is 13 and Des was in his twenties when he died, but Marion said: “Des and Joey were incredibly close friends despite the age gap.”

Des, a popular figure in the fishing industry for many years, tragically lost his life on board a vessel 200km off the south-west coast in December, 2023. He was found unconscious when he lost his balance amid poor weather conditions.

“They spent a lot of time together sharing similar interests. Joey looked up to Des,” said Marion. 

Joey’s world was turned upside down the day Des died. His life was shattered.

His life changed overnight.

“It was a massive change for him,” Marion says. “And it wasn’t easy for us either. It was very hard to cope with a tragedy so young. Joey was 12. Dealing with both grief and adolescence was not easy.

“Joey was at the end of primary school and the beginning of secondary school. It was a worrying time. 

This type of shock, pain, and grief is something no 12-year-old should have to go through.

Joey, blessed with a loving family and a dear nanny who recently passed, then found a new friend who guided him through his grief - Mikey Power.

“Mikey, a great friend of mine who had to deal with grief himself in the past, took Joey on to replace something negative with something positive, as in taking on exercise,” says Marion.

Mikey had discovered that the therapy of exercise helped him bounce back from adversity. He now runs his own gym, B Fit, here in Kinsale.

“Mikey encouraged Joey to get into the routine of regular exercise and fitness training.

“They put a plan in place, and came up together with the idea of doing a duathlon in memory of Des, and to support the RNLI, a wonderful organisation that supported us when we lost Des.”

Joey is a born champion.

“He got up early before school to do his runs,” says Marion. “He threw all his energy into it.

He took on the training and he had the determination and dedication to reach his goal and complete the run and kayak.

Where does Joey get his energy from?

“I think it must be from me,” says Marion laughing. “His dad Mark is laid back. I’m not!”

Joey was devoted to his late Nana who he lost only weeks ago.

“He was incredibly close to his nana, who passed away suddenly” says Marion.

Nana spurred him on to cross the line and complete his mission for Des.

“I thought this might be a setback to the duathlon,” says Marion. “But it made him even more determined to do it.”

What did Joey do?

“He started off at the Bullman Bar in Kinsale at 10.30am where he kicked things off with a paddle to James Fort, which is one kilometre,” says Marion.

“Then he ran to Charles Fort and back (10.25km), before finishing up with another 1km kayak back to the starting line.”

Not an easy challenge to take on for one so young.

“Joey was set on completing the challenge in memory of Des,” says personal trainer Mikey.

He has overcome so much adversity at a young age. Losing his uncle and his nana was so sad for him.

“He used exercise for therapy, and being able to use something positive to overcome adversity is a wonderful thing. He kept up training for the duathlon and never put it off. Joey is an incredible young man.

“The fund has reached €20,000 already!” says Marion.

Everyone must be so proud of him. Des would be so proud of his best friend. “We are all so proud of him,” says Marion. “We are still buzzing!”

Is it likely we could see Joey compete in the Olympics in the future?

“I wouldn’t rule it out!” says Marion. “If Mikey had his way, Joey would be an Ironman and an Olympic medallist!”

Watch this space...