Instructors

Brian Keogh has extensive experience in outdoor sports and event management, and has been an ever present on the Irish Adventure Racing scene over the past few years. As well as an widely respected and accomplished kayaker, and one of the most successful adventure race organisers in Ireland, Brian is a consistent top 5 finisher in national mountain bike and adventure races. He is a member of the Irish adventure racing team and has competed in a number of adventure races at home and aboard. Brian has taken part in a number of Gaelforce events, including the original Gaelforce 12 which consisted of a 72 hr race.

Brian has been running Gaelforce training weekends in Killary Adventure Centre over the last 3 years. Basicially if there is something that Brian doesnt know about adventure racing, its not worth knowing!

Chris has competed at the Adventure Racing World Championships 2007, 2010 & this coming November will race at the World Champs in Tasmania. His previous races include the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge 2008 & 2009, The Turas Mor 2008, Addidas Terrex Expedition race UK in 2010, APEX Switzerland Adventure Race 2011.

He is a member of the Irish Adventure Team and on the Irish stage Chris has enjoyed a number of wins, notably the Connemara Adventure Challange 2010, Rogaine Ireland 2010 & The Beast of Ballyhoura 2010. In 2011 Chris has been a podium finisher at Gaelforce North, Achill Roar and the Beast of Ballhoura.

Chris has worked along side Brian for the last 2 years on our residential Gaelforce training weekends.

Mona is the general Manager in Killary and Race Organiser for Gaelforce Events. She specailise in training for beginners and loves being able to motivate people to make that life changing step from  sofa  to mountain!

"I believe Adventure racing gives empowerment and in todays society where we are increasly removed from choice and risk due to cluastophic health and safety measures, adventure brings us back to where we came from. It lets us run down mountains, cycle through dirt tracks and pushes us to where we never thought we could go" states Mona, "Our training is based on giving you the tools neccasary to be able to complete a Gaelforce challange. This involves training plans, running skills, cycling skills, diet tips, gear tips, bike mainteance and most of all the believe you can do it!"

She is also a regular Adventure racer and has completed a two day coast to coast in Devon, The Wicklow WAR, Sea to Summit, Gaelforce West and spends a lot of her spare time running up and down mountains looking for the next great race!

Shane grew up in the outdoors being the son of Mary and Jamie Young who started Killary Adventure centre 30 years ago. His formative years were spent climbing things, jumping of them and then getting wet.
Following a youth in the West of Ireland, he went to school and University in Dublin, he took up rugby and ended up playing for Connacht U-21s and captaining Trinity’s senior team.  Before heading off to Argentina to play some rugby and learn the language. He  ended up playing for one of the top teams in Argentina and it helped to broaden his experience. Shane has been instructing in Killary for over 6 years and regularly coaches on the residential training weekends.

Over the years he has completed in a number of short races among them Gaelforce West & 12, The Achill Roar, Wicklow Adventure Race. His real love is the longer multi day races of which he has completed a number such as the Mourne Mountain Marathon and the Barnmouth to Fort William 3 peaks yacht race. His plans for next year include the Devises to Westminster canoe marathon and the Paps of Jura fell race.

" I look forward to sharing my expertise with you and opening the world of adventure racing up to you. It has always seemed to me that the most difficult part of building a bridge would be the start’’
When not working Shane can be founded running up Mweelrea, paddling the fjord or getting a cycle in on the Connemara roads.

Jerome is our international flavour, our resident French man, a wine, cheese and fitness fanatic.
Jerome spent his youth mountain biking and snowboarding in the Alps and playing semi professional basketball. He moved to Ireland over 7 years ago to learn English and work as a bike mechanic. Following a basketball injury which resulted in surgery to replace his cruiciate ligament he has been bitten by the adventure bug.
He has competed in one day adventure races across the country including Gaelforce West, Achill Roar, Sea-2-Summit and in France such as Ardeche Raid Aventuer du Pont D’Arc and Le Roc D’Azur. He was also part of a team that competed in Gaelforce 12, for 2 years. Jerome is an avid cyclist enjoying both road and mountain biking and competes in races for both disciplines.
Allez les bleus!!