Ireland: Proof That Life’s Better By The Water

Stop 1: End of the Road at Big Style Lodge

Our first major outpost was at the literal end of the line: Big Style Lodge in Killadoon, County Mayo. Nestled against the freezing Atlantic, surrounded by dark coastal lakes, rolling fields, and towering peaks, it offered the ultimate "quietcation" and a place to disconnect from modern stress and to lean into the coast’s elemental rhythm.

As night fell, we were greeted by Kris Goodbody, founder of Big Style, radiating the relaxed energy of a lifelong waterman. Starting out as a kite-surfing instructor in Dublin, Kris spent years chasing tides worldwide before returning home to the west coast of Ireland.

"I'm a water boy," Kris laughs. "I'm a kite surfer, a surfer, a paddle boarder, a swimmer, and a diver. I just love being in the water and teaching others to experience it."

The next morning, under a moody sky with a storm brewing on the horizon, we explored the headland with Kris, his wife Yuka, and their family, kitting them out in our new Elements Collection to combat the biting Atlantic wind. During lockdown, Kris and Yuka rebuilt the lodge around a fresh vision: an off-grid sanctuary centred around the Big Dipper, a wood-fired sauna and hot tub setup overlooking the ocean.

"Sometimes removing choices benefits people," Kris explains. "You just unwind, switch off your phone, and let the water do the work."

Before wrapping day one of the shoot, BTS (behind the scenes) videographer, Red ambassador and extreme cold-water swimmer Becca Harvey challenged the crew to a cold plunge followed by a session in the sauna. There’s nothing quite like a debrief in your swimmers in the sauna to bond a crew! 

Stop 2: Mná Na Mara and Mayo’s Atlantic Sisterhood

Leaving Killadoon, we drove further along the coast to Old Head Beach in Louisburgh to meet Mná Na Mara ("Women of the Sea"). Rain or shine, gentle mist or an Atlantic gale, this dedicated group enters the ocean 365 days a year.

At the heart of the group is founder Mairead Staunton, who lives just a mile from the beach. What started as a small meetup during COVID-19 to banish lockdown blues blossomed into a daily celebration of life, complete with post-swim chats, birthday cakes on the sand, and shoreline cleanups.

Among the group was 86-year-old Elfie Watson, who found her "tribe" and a renewed sense of vitality here after losing her husband. "All the niggles and pain that I have just seem to disappear when I get into the cold water," Elfie shares with a smile.

Then there is Agnes Cox, who went from being completely water-phobic to an everyday ocean swimmer thanks to Mairead's patience. "I look out every day from my cottage and realise how lucky I am," Agnes reflects. "I feel as if I’ve won the lottery."

We wrapped the women in our latest EVO Pro Change Robes, passed around freshly made cinnamon buns, which usually only come out on a Sunday but an exception was made for our visit, and watched as the cold Atlantic water awakened spirits and forged unbreakable bonds. 

Ireland was throwing all the weather at us, which we hoped for, but following a team swim with the ladies, another sauna session at the end of the day was very much welcomed. Team warmed up, kit dried off inside the sauna (a new one for us on a shoot) and it was time to hit the road once again. 

Stop 3: Connemara Wild Dips & The Legend of Blackrock

Taking a winding scenic detour through Connemara National Park, a landscape of moody glens, dark lakes, and unpredictable weather, Becca spotted a rain-swept lake and insisted we pull over. As a torrential downpour began, Becca plunged into the dark water, her glee-filled cackles reminding us all that in Ireland, water doesn't ruin the day; it makes it.

Sufficiently soaked, we headed to Galway City's iconic Blackrock Diving Tower. Here, locals gather continuously to jump into the icy Atlantic, shedding workplace stress and rebooting their minds.

It was here that we met ultra-swimmer Darragh Morgan, who famously completed a 1,500km swim around the entire island of Ireland over nearly six months, timing his efforts with the ocean tides. Darragh joined us for a swim and managing to persuade Becca to take a leap from the top platform.

"Blackrock operates almost like a church for the community," Darragh notes as locals wave and high-five him on the pier. "Everyone strips down to their togs, dives into the swell, and leaves their worries behind."

Stop 4: Absolutely Fabulous Finn Lough

After our hectic, full day in Galway Bay, Team Read on the Road was craving a reset and a tranquil setting, so we drove 3 hours north in the dark to the forest-sheltered waters of Finn Lough. 

Nestled among tall pines and dark, glassy lakes, this serene resort is a perfect retreat for water lovers. Its setting offered a vivid contrast to the rugged Atlantic coast, providing an ideal backdrop for testing our new collection of outerwear in postcard-perfect conditions. Early-morning paddleboarding on calm waters, relaxing in wood-fired saunas, and taking icy forest plunges helped the team capture compelling cold-weather imagery that aligns with our creative vision. 

The most memorable part of our two nights at Finn Lough was undoubtedly the exceptional dining experience. Focusing on local produce, each dish was made from seasonal ingredients that mirrored the nearby landscape. After exhausting days out in the elements and on the road, these nourishing, revitalising meals were just what we needed to regain energy before continuing our journey. Plus, this was a real treat – our usual shoot sustenance is made up of soggy sandwiches and a lot of Haribo. 

Stop 5: Saturday Beach Sauna with the Salty Sea Sisters

Heading north towards the wild edges of Donegal, we arrived at the sweeping white sands of Tullan Strand to meet the Salty Sea Sisters.

Founded in 2020 by Áine McAuley and Eimear Tangney, the Salty Sea Sisters began when Eimear messaged Áine on an old Facebook post looking for a mountain biking partner. Realising how intimidating outdoor sports can be for women, they began sharing their adventures online, organically growing a movement of tens of thousands. Today, their platform features adventure maps of over 300 wild swimming spots across the UK and Ireland.

As a real treat, Áine set up a wood-fired pop-up sauna directly on the sand for us. Between steaming sessions inside the sauna sat on little camping chairs and benches and plunging into the cold Atlantic surf, we tested and captured our changing robes, jackets and trousers. 

"It shouldn’t be about what you wear or your skill level," Áine explains from the beach. "It’s about the feeling afterwards, the sense of achievement, and the encouragement from a group that helps you reach your goals."

Meanwhile, photographer Abbi Hughes grabbed a board and hit the waves, catching clean, rolling sets as the sun dipped towards the horizon. We returned to Finn Lough for a feast on our final night in Ireland.

Stop 6: Inland Waterways with Becky Gilmour

Nearing the end of our journey near Dublin, we made our final stop on the River Liffey at Leixlip to meet Becky Gilmour. Becky was in the middle of a solo 1,000 km paddleboard expedition across Ireland’s four provinces, while raising funds for a mental health charity in Uganda.

To keep her gear dry, we equipped Becky with our Elements Collection and waterproof kit bags. She’s been paddling her trusty paddleboard the entire way. Patrick (Red ambassador and copy writing king) inflated a Compact board and paddled alongside her, while the camera crew captured the all-important footage. 

"Being out on the water, moving and doing something with repetitive motion, like paddleboarding, is really the best way to heal," Becky shares. "I’ve hauled this Voyager board in and out of more than 100 canal locks without any dramas."

To close out our week on the road, we invited Becky to a cosy local pub for a hearty seafood chowder and freshly poured Guinness. Looking back over the more than 1,000km of wild coastlines, mountain glens, and inland rivers, our Irish expedition proved that taking the slow road and connecting with real communities is the ultimate way to live. Water strips away the noise, resets the mind, and brings people together in a way nothing else can.

Sláinte!