This Galway man just rowed the Atlantic solo and the photos of him finishing are amazing

“To do it for Ireland.”

GALWAY MAN GAVAN Hennigan created history last night by becoming the fastest Irishman to row solo across the Atlantic.

After 49 days at sea, he landed in Antigua to a jubilant reception.

And the photos of him arriving that he shared on his Facebook page last night are fairly spectacular

gavan Ben Duffy / Gavan Hennigan Facebook Ben Duffy / Gavan Hennigan Facebook / Gavan Hennigan Facebook

goodman Ben Duffy / Gavan Hennigan Adventurer Ben Duffy / Gavan Hennigan Adventurer / Gavan Hennigan Adventurer

He wrote:

All the photos from my biggest adventure to date… a 5000km row across the Atlantic Ocean from la Gomera in the Canaries to Antigua in the Caribbean

Gavan told The42.ie yesterday that he was planning something for a grand arrival:

I’m going to get to Antigua with style and raise that flare and tricolour high when I get there.

And he certainly lived up to his promise

gav4 BEN DUFFY / Gavan Hennigan Adventurer BEN DUFFY / Gavan Hennigan Adventurer / Gavan Hennigan Adventurer

The flares are probably still going as Gavan’s friends and family are are surely still celebrating over there

gavan2 Ben Duffy / Gavan Hennigan Facebook Ben Duffy / Gavan Hennigan Facebook / Gavan Hennigan Facebook

An “exhausted” Gavan said after the race:

I’m so proud to have done this. Not many Irish have attempted a solo row across the Atlantic and I feel I’ve done it in style. I had so many messages of support. I’d get up some days… and I’d be struggling but when I read the positivity in those notes and comments… from complete strangers… that would motivate me to get back on the oars and do it for them. To do it for Ireland. The last 7 days have been relentless. At times, I’ve rowed up to 19 hours a day and yesterday when I woke up, I decided it was time to finish this. I’ve rowed for the past 14 hours straight. I gave that my all.