Our Instructors

Sean Pierce An experienced level 5 sea kayaker and level 4 instructor, Sean is a bird-watching and photography enthusiast. More

Eileen Murphy Eileen’s involvement in kayaking goes back to 1973 when as a 16yr old, she represented Ireland in the Canoe Slalom World Championships in Moutathal, Switzerland. More

About Us

Company Background

Shearwater Sea Kayaking was set up by Sean Pierce and Eileen Murphy to cater for the growing interest in Sea Kayaking on Dublin’s north side. Based in Howth, we deliver a wide range of courses from Introductory to Rough Water Handling Skills to Irish Canoe Union approved Proficiency Training and Assessment. We also provide guided and customized trips to other locations around the Irish coast.

Sean Pierce

Sean Pierce kayaking off Mull, Scotland

Sean is a Physical Education teacher, holds an Outdoor Education Diploma and is an experienced level 4 sea instructor. He has led sea kayaking expeditions to almost every island off the Irish coast, the Blaskets, Arans, Inishkeas, Tory and Rathlin and abroad to Arctic Norway, Arctic Russia, Iceland and the Scottish Hebrides. In 2004, he was part of an Irish Sea Kayaking Expedition to Greenland which successfully rounded Cape Farewell, and in 1999, he completed a circumnavigation of Ireland by sea kayak.

Sean was the photo editor for “Oileain”, the sea kayaker’s guide to the Irish islands. He is a former Chairman of the Irish Sea Kayaking Association and a past Editor of “Treasna na dTonnta”, the Irish Sea Kayaking magazine. A keen bird watcher and active member of Birdwatch Ireland, he has a passionate interest in Natural History and Ecology and a thorough knowledge of the bird life of the Irish coast.

Eileen Murphy

Eileen Murphy surfing off Eastern Crete

A former Irish International in Canoe Slalom, Whitewater and Marathon Racing, Eileen has competed at many World Championships and taken part in kayak expeditions from the Alps and Himalayas to the Murray Darling, Scottish Islands, Russian and Norwegian Arctic. Her competitive career also includes a K2 World Cup, 8 Liffey Descent Titles and 4 Masters World Marathon Titles. In 2005, she brought all of this experience and fitness together when she completed the First Solo Female Circumnavigation of Ireland by sea kayak. During this trip, she gained huge knowledge of the coastal environment and respect for the everchanging sea conditions of the Irish coast.

A Geography and Outdoor Education teacher since 1981, Eileen is a level 5 sea kayaker and a qualified river instructor with much experience leading and instructing groups on rivers and at sea. As a Mountain Leader, Rock Climbing Instructor and Gaisce Award or Presidents Award Leader (PAL), she has spent much time during her teaching career motivating young adults to achieve their potential through involvement in outdoor activity.