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Tom Bourke
Tom Bourke is from Westport, Co. Mayo. He’s 47, works in hospitality, and is a father of four; which means he’s already completed several endurance events before breakfast most mornings.
While most people mark a mid-life milestone with something sensible, Tom decided to take on the World’s Toughest Row: A 3,000 mile crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. A logical next step, depending on who you ask.
When he’s not working or parenting, Tom can usually be found cycling, rowing, or training like he’s preparing for the Olympics, though many suspect it’s mainly to justify the alarming number of Milka bars he gets through each week.
He’s the kind of man who doesn’t sit still for long. Always moving, always doing, and now preparing for one of the toughest endurance challenges in the world.
So if you see someone cycling around Mayo looking slightly tired, slightly hungry, and very focused...That’s Tom.
Hospitality worker, father of four, Atlantic rower… and living proof that mid-life decisions can get seriously out of hand.
Bryan Hyland
Bryan is a paramedic with the National Ambulance Service and a lifelong seafarer from the west of Ireland.
Before joining the ambulance service, Bryan spent more than twenty years working at sea in the aquaculture industry, where he developed a deep respect for the ocean and the discipline required to work safely in challenging conditions. His background on the water, combined with his work in emergency care, has shaped a practical, resilient approach to both teamwork and problem-solving.
Bryan is from and lives in Westport, Co. Mayo with his wife Noeleen and their two children, Aoibheann and Ronan, who remain the centre of everything he does.
Family, community, and staying active have always been important parts of his life, whether through sport, outdoor pursuits, or local initiatives. Taking part in the World’s Toughest Row is something Bryan sees as a once-in-a-lifetime challenge.
Alongside his rowing partner and friend, Tom, he hopes to push his limits physically and mentally while supporting Cancer Fund For Children.
