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The Boyne Valley Journey
Life is too short to have an off day on your day off
Like all great stories, mine starts with a day off. It was one of those days that you don’t forget. You find yourself doing something different and enjoying it way more than you thought you would. Everybody has a day like that at some time. For me it was the day I first went kayaking. I loved the feeling of being on the water, of being outdoors. I especially enjoyed not being at work.
I started Boyne Valley Activities in order to have the perfect day off every day. Over the years I got quite good at this and I use a checklist I call the Boyne Valley Experience that has served me well.
- Explore the outdoors without leaving at cock crow on a 3 hour military expedition.
- Feel an unmistakable sense of Adventure without any element of danger.
- Healthy exercise but only the type that you don’t know you are doing.
- Breathe the freshest of air without having to climb Everest.
- Pass through rarely seen countryside without having to trek to the middle of nowhere.
- Goofy smiles, wide grins and pure laughter.
- Learn how the locals lived in the landscape without your eyes glazing over
- Good Coffee (preferably while sitting on the banks of a river watching the world go by).
Along the way, some amazing things happened on the Boyne.
2013
Delivery of kayaks
Before the Blueway was even a thing, a carpenter and diesel mechanic start paddling on the Boyne and taking locals downstream to experience the river in a different way.
2014
Delivery of inflatable rafts
Adding some more colour to the river, our giant orange inflatables became a common sight on the Boyne. Firstly, bouncing over Stackallan weir and then floating along at a relaxed pace on our historical river tours.
2014
Marriage
After a kayaking trip in the stunning Swedish islands of the Arctic Circle, myself and Gemma decide to paddle together from here on out.
2016
Swift Wave opens
We work with the OPW to clean up the river bed and put in new features to help Salmon breed and create a rolling wave that kayakers can play on.
2017
New premises
We move to a new site along the river that gives us easier access to the water and a little bit of waste ground to work with in between the playground and the pitch n putt grounds.
2018
Snow kayak
The Beast from the East does not phase us as we take the kayaks out to slalom down the steep Yellow Steeple Hill.
2019
Boyneista opens
Because everyone needs coffee and ice-cream after a day on the river, not just me.
2020
Staycation Nation
The world stops. People slow down. Irish people rediscover their own country.
2021
Riverside Woodcraft
We design and build a wooden surround to add to the scenic atmosphere of our riverside base.
2022
New outdoor covered coffee dock
Irish weather can’t stop us now!
2023
10 Year Anniversary
To celebrate 10 years on the water, we bring back the legendary raft race for St. Paddy’s Day