Fundraiser launched in memory of the inspirational Paddy Conaghan

A fundraiser has been launched in memory of the inspirational late Paddy Ann Conaghan. 

The fundraiser was arranged by Paddy's close friend and sidekick, Elaine Barney Grady. 

All donations will go to Gemma's Legacy of Hope, a free counselling nonprofit founded by Paddy's friend in 2020. In total, he has raised more than €100,000 for the organisation.

Arranmore native Paddy sadly passed away in hospital, surrounded by his loving family, on Wednesday, April 1, aged 85.

He had won the World Open Water Swimming Association Man of the Year Award in 2023. He is well known for his ducking and diving challenges around the country, even getting his own short film. 

The idea behind Paddy’s ducking and diving is to swim from as many harbours or beaches as possible every day, and those challenges have brought him to fundraise for many charities over the last few years.

He has raised money for PIPS, Accessible Counselling Tullamore, Lisheens House Suicide Prevention Service, Mindspace Mayo, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Paddy had also taken on Wales in November 2025 in memory of his daughter, Angela Evans, who died in 2020. All proceeds from his ducking and diving challenge in Wales had been given to the UK charity, Marie Curie. 

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There is an iDonate page titled ‘In memory of Paddy Ann Conaghan’ for people to make donations, and it will be open until June 3.

Gemma’s Legacy of Hope has been set up to help shine a light of hope to individuals living and working in this community so that they are supported to find the courage and strength towards a path to improved happiness and fulfilling lives.