While on his recent visit to Donegal to shoot our latest campaign, we sat down with extreme adventurer Damian Browne and picked his brain about what motivates him to achieve his incredible feats, what he’s listening to right now, and of course, the wild coasts of the Atlantic Ocean.
What kept you motivated when crossing the Atlantic?
In a word; meaning. The project was one of great purpose and meaning to me because of its fulfilling nature. It would give me enormous rewards on many different levels of life if I was able to complete it and plenty still if I wasn’t. Meaning is like a center mass of indefatigable energy that if you can understand your why and align your actions to that why, you will never run out of energy in the pursuit of the goal. Harnessing emotional energy through the powers of your imagination is a great way to fuel your actions and neutralise the effects of the darkest of negative states.
Best piece of advice you have ever received?
You can motivate by fear, you can motivate by reward, but the only lasting motivation is self-motivation.
Do you have a motto you live by?
Life is a fight. (And you better cultivate the capacities to deal with the fight).
What drives you?
Self realisation. Getting to my deathbed with a sincere knowing I didn’t waste a minute of my life and tried with all my heart to live courageously, authentically and lovingly.
What do you consider the greatest success in your life?
The peacefulness, contentment, and security of my default internal state.
What did you want to be when you grow up?
A professional golfer or professional rugby player.
Where is your favourite place in the world?
Impossible to pick one but Glassilaun beach in Connemara, The Flaggy Shore in North Co. Clare or Bequia in The Grenadines in The Caribbean
Damian Browne with Patrick, Rosy and Charlotte Temple
What is your favourite book?
The Oxford Atlas of The World.
Describe your dream day at home in Ireland.
A mentally challenging training session, a dip in the Atlantic Ocean, quality time with Rozelle and Élodie, at least one great double espresso, a laugh with a friend/friends, a walk in nature with the dog and family, a meaningful conversation with Rozelle and 3 home cooked meals including some quality Irish beef or lamb.
What do you listen to when training?
My internal voice. I pay attention to what I am feeling; physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Apart from your own, what podcasts do you enjoy?
Desert Island Discs.
You are an incredibly busy person, what do you do to relax?
I operate out of a pretty calm state so never really feel the need to deliberately relax. However, training brings a greater sense of peace to me as does a dip in the ocean or a walk in nature.
What’s next?
I am still recovering emotionally from the incredible demands of the North Atlantic row, so I don’t have anything “big” on the horizon for the next while. In the meantime, for my travel and adventure fix I am climbing Kilimanjaro back to back in June and July.
Photography by Alex Hutchinson
Season 4 of Damian’s podcast ‘Deep Roots’ launches in June 2023
Father’s Day is coming up on Sunday the 18th of June, a day to celebrate all the special dads.
From classic tweed blazers to luxury knitwear that can replace that jumper he always wears (you know the one), our carefully curated gift guide is packed with dad-approved gift ideas.
For the racing fan, take a look at our Donegal Tweed caps, a timeless accessory crafted in tweed designed and woven at our mill in Donegal. Or, if your dad is a fan of the sun, discover our new range of cotton polo shirts and Irish Linen shirts – two summer essentials.
Whatever you go for, he will know it was chosen with love.
Our latest campaign features the extreme adventurer and peak performance athlete, Damian Browne. After retiring from a sixteen-year professional rugby career, Damian has since scaled some of the world’s highest peaks, crossed deserts and, last year, completed an epic 112-day row from New York to Galway.
Sharing common traits of resilience, commitment, skill, and character, together with a mutual affinity for the wild shores of the Atlantic, Damian captures the essence of Magee 1866.
Shot on location, by the sea in our home county of Donegal, the rugged coastline of which offers us endless inspiration, this campaign brings to life the character of our 5th generation family brand.
Known for our weaving heritage, sustainable fabric and high-quality, long-lasting pieces, we are committed to supporting the tradition of weaving and manufacturing textiles in the northwest of Ireland bringing a contemporary edge to an age-old craft.
As a family, we are avid fans of the outdoors, being in the elements and embracing wild places. When it comes to the water, Chairman Lynn Temple has a traditional Galway Hooker boat, which during the summer can be seen off the coast of Mountcharles and was used for this campaign, while CEO Rosy has represented Ireland at the World Rowing Coastal Championship. On land, Rosy has taken her bike and tent to explore remote places like Patagonia and Norway. Design Director Charlotte and CEO of Magee Weaving Patrick also hold a daring streak, with Charlotte having climbed Kilimanjaro and trekked the Himalayas and the Alps and Patrick’s love of exploring the wilds of Scotland.
This shared interest in adventure drew us to Damian as we admire the depth of courage and determination it takes to complete his feats.
Shop the lookbook online or in any of our three stores.
Our signature blazer range represents the best of what we design and weave at our mill in Donegal. For spring summer collections, the focus switches from heavier weight wools to lighter fabrics, expertly designed and woven by our talented team using the finest natural fibres.
Lightweight alternatives for warmer months include soft merino, silk blends, Irish Linen, and hints of cashmere. The patterns range from classic checks to contemporary sharkskins and, of course, the two “true” Donegal Tweed patterns of Herringbone and Salt & Pepper.
When designing our collections, we draw inspiration from the land and seascapes of Donegal and this season our blazers can be broken down into two colour stories.
Inspired by the Land
Earthy tones of rust orange, raspberry and greens taken from the beaches, shores and hillsides.
Inspired by the Sea
From sky blue to rich, inky navy, this range of calming, nautical shades offer endless opportunity for coordination.
We are all about making our wardrobe work for us, and now more than ever we are looking to add select pieces that can be pulled out time and time again. As a brand we are working on our collections to enable you to do just that – mix and match, season after season.
For Spring Summer 2023 the Mourne navy-blue Irish linen blazer and matching Tina drawstring trousers are the perfect starting point – two wardrobe staples that can be styled in lots of ways. We are huge fans of linen, and this beautiful, natural fabric is designed and woven in our mill in Donegal.
Here, we have styled it three ways:
Night out glamour – just add heels and statement jewellery and you’re good to go.
Founded, like us, in the 19th century, Liberty Fabrics are titans of textile design.
Shortly after opening on Regent Street London in 1875, Arthur Liberty became renowned for his silks. By the 1890s Liberty Fabrics was a byword for the very best of avant-garde textile design. Today, every bolt of Liberty fabric is the product of a bespoke production process: hand drawn or painted by the in-house design team in London, Soho. Transformed onto fabric at Liberty’s own Italian printing mill, near Lake Como. Liberty Fabrics are created by skilled technicians who oversee the production of over 300 different designs every year.
We love working with Liberty Fabrics and have been incorporating their original patterns into our collections since the late 1990s. Known for small floral, abstract, and paisley prints in vibrant colours, the Liberty Fabric archive houses over 45,000 designs. These delicate and playful patterns are the perfect complement to the Donegal Tweeds of our men’s and women’s collections.
Luxury fabrics are at the heart of what we do with our own tweeds and linens, which we design and weave at our mill in Donegal, Liberty’s signature Tana Lawn® cotton is an ideal companion to these. A famous masterpiece of fabric technology, Tana Lawn® is fine, cool and durable with a silk-like feel.
Hailing from Donegal, where it is possible to enjoy all four seasons in one day, the inspiration for shades of green is endless. Our designers look to the landscapes of our home county when creating our luxurious collections for men, women and the home.
Green features across our Made in Ireland range of throws, woody, teal and sea greens are crossed with oats and cream.
As always, we focus on the use of natural fibres in our pieces. For spring styles, this means luxurious blends using silk and Irish Linen and lightweight merino and lambswool.
This International Womens’ Day, we reached out to women we admire and invited them to share some words of wisdom…
EASKEY BRITTON PhD, Blue Health Scientist, Surfer & Author
Name a woman you admire/inspires you and why?
Irish artist Pauline Bewick has had the greatest influence on me since I first went to her art class aged 10. She embodied the wild feminine, encouraged me to nurture my creative power and to boldly express myself.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received from another woman?
“Our strength is in being soft, like water.” – freediver and founder of I Am Water, Hanli Prinsloo.
What advice would you offer another woman in your field/industry?
Our bodies are over 60% saltwater. And every second breath we take comes from the ocean. Breathe deep, you breathe the ocean inside. And remember, we are ocean.
Easkey’s new book ‘Ebb and Flow’: Connect with the Patterns and Power of Water’ will be released on April 11th, and is available for pre-order now via this link.
SIOBHÁN MCSWEENEY, Actor & Presenter
Name a woman you admire/inspires you and why?
I have to say my female friends. I have the most remarkable group of gals in my friendship circle. A veritable coven of wise, supportive, funny and inspiring women. Women who raise children and continue to maintain their own identity despite a system that demands that motherhood is subjugation and subsuming. These women are extraordinary role models both for me and the children they are rearing.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received from another woman?
From my own brilliant mother; Try and live by yourself for some time if you can. If you can’t live by yourself, how can you expect anyone to live with you (fully aware this is quite the privilege in this economic climate). I think at heart this is a version of Ru Paul’s – “If you don’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love someone else?”
What advice would you offer another woman in your field/industry?
Remember as an actor the best tool you have is yourself. Don’t try and become a tabula rasa and erase everything that makes you unique. But keep working on yourself to become the most interesting, creative, professional and mischievous version of yourself. Thats what our industry needs; interesting and interested imps.
This summer, Siobhán will be starring in Landmark Production’s ‘Happy Days’, written by Samuel Beckett and directed by Caitríona McLaughlin, more information here.
AMBER BARRETT, Irish International Footballer
Name a woman you admire/inspires you and why?
A woman that I have always admired is Serena Williams. She continually pushes barriers and boundaries for her sport and succeeding under constant criticism. Dominating her sport, the way she did for such a long time, is such an unbelievable accomplishment.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received from another woman?
The best advice I received from a woman was listening to Jo Malone on the High-Performance podcast, and she said, “never make a life changing decision on a bad day” and it’s something that really stuck with me. Important to always be in a clear mind for these types of moments.
What advice would you offer another woman in your field/industry?
The best advice I would give would be to keep doing what they say you can’t do or what you aren’t able to. Push your own boundaries and do more. And the rest follows suit.
Amber and the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team will compete in this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Aimee Connolly, founder of Sculpted by Aimee. I have met many incredible women over the years but this year I sat down with Aimee to film some content and I was blown away by her ambition/ dedication and lack of ego. She has achieved so much in business and is only getting started!
What advice would you offer another women in your field/industry?
Don’t let nerves stop you from taking that first step into your speaking career. Public speaking is terrifying at first and it can be enough to put you off. However, if you persevere it could change your life!
To name one is to omit many – so truthfully, it’s all of my female colleagues who maintain amazing, ambitious and ever-surprising practices despite the financial and practical difficulties of longevity in this industry.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received from another woman?
Rather than trying to make the ‘best’ work – just make the ‘next’ work – nothing can ever contain everything – and if it did that would be the end.
What advice would you offer another woman in your field/industry?
Surround yourself with supportive people who value you as well as your work – and – it’s your life not a race.
Niamh O’Malley’s critically acclaimed exhibition that represented Ireland at the 2022 Venice Biannale Gather – is on display at The Model, Sligo until April 8th, 2023.
CHARLOTTE TEMPLE, Design Director & 5th Generation Family Member – Magee 1866
Name a woman you admire/inspires you and why?
Amelia Earhart, the pilot. I love adventure and hugely admire a variety of early female adventurers and explorers who were groundbreaking in their particular fields in a time when women didn’t have the freedom, we experience today in the western world to travel and explore. They were incredibly resilient, brave and determined. Qualities that I feel are so important today, in any field – business to adventure.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received from another woman?
I used to be a real worrier and spend hours at night awake thinking and worrying about things I couldn’t control. As someone once told me in no uncertain terms – this is wasted energy and emotion and leaves you feeling exhausted!
The best advice I have been given is stop worrying about things that are completely out of your control, worrying about them will change nothing – it just stresses you out. Manage what you can control and generally things fall into place. We are all human and I do sometimes wake at night with something on my mind, I now listen to a sleep story or some music which is a good distraction.
What advice would you offer another woman in your field/industry?
We spend our life trying to find a balance, (or certainly I do!) and often get it very wrong, especially as a woman – it can be very hard to keep everyone happy – family, children, husband or partner, teams at work and yourself. When everything gets too much, try, hard as it might be to take a step back, breathe and reassess what is most important to you right now and prioritise – a day at a time. Give yourself some time, if you can find some space for you – some sport, a quiet moment with a book, a spa treatment – it often helps to put other areas of our busy lives into perspective & create a better balance – family, work and day to day life.
We have been specialising in exquisite tailoring since the 1940s. Our design philosophy has always promoted the concept of ‘slow fashion’ through timeless styles designed to be worn again and again. High-quality, long-lasting products define our DNA.
When it comes to suiting, there is no such thing as a ‘one size fits all’ approach. The first thing to ask yourself when suit shopping is “what are my needs?”, followed by “where am I going?”. Whether you are a future groom, a guest or want to update your 9 – 5 wardrobe, we have a range of tailoring options for every occasion.
Let us help you find your perfect fit.
Mix & Match
In our flexible Mix & Match range, jackets, trousers and waistcoats are sold separately, allowing you to find the fit that suits you best.
Designed for maximum versatility, these are styles for your weekday wardrobe, or a special occasion. Patterns in this collection are classic. The jacket and trousers make a great workday choice, add a waistcoat for a special occasion, or pair the trousers with our cotton cashmere knit for a smarter casual look.
Bearing all the hallmarks of quality associated with Magee 1866, our 2-piece and 3-piece suits are crafted in an array of luxury fabrics.
From Donegal Tweeds and Irish Linens, designed and woven at our mill in Donegal, to lightweight wools and blends from mills in the UK and Italy, you will find a style for you. For those on the move, the Travel Suit is a practical option for the working day, wool-rich with added stretch for comfort.
The classic dinner suit never goes out of style. A timeless choice for black tie weddings and events, Mix & Match for an exquisite fit and add your own twist with a contemporary cashmere-blend turtleneck.
Our Made to Measure service, available exclusively in our three Magee 1866 stores, combines our expert tailoring with our love of luxury fabrics.
With dozens of fabrics available to choose from, many of which are designed and woven at our mill in Donegal. Our tailoring experts will guide you through the selection of every detail – linings, buttons, collar melton, piping and stitching. You can even add personalised embroidery to your suit or jacket for that extra special finishing touch.
“Cosying up on the sofa with the kids under one of the new brightly coloured throws to watch a Christmas film (‘A Boy Called Christmas’ is our favourite) is my idea of bliss. If my children are reading this (or husband!) this is what I would love for Christmas.”
“I love the new Sheelin jacket in the Blackwatch check. It’s warm and comfortable but smart enough to pair with jeans for a Christmas night out with friends.”
“You can never have too much knitwear. I love the Achill polo jumper, it’s a nice casual alternative to a shirt under a Donegal Tweed jacket or just on its own. Lightweight and super soft thanks to the cashmere, yet warm and cosy. A great layering piece.”
“One of my favourite things to do on Christmas morning is to go out for a walk with family and plan the day ahead. Weather in the Northwest can be unpredictable to say the least, so the Nessa coat would be perfect! The quilting and longer length mean I can pop it on over a jumper and jeans and wrap up well in one of my Magee 1866 scarves. Ideal!”
“Christmas is a really busy time, travelling around to catch up with family and friends with lots of different events. I would love to find the Clodagh shirt jacket (the herringbone one in a luxury baby alpaca blend) under the tree, it’s so versatile and will go with so many different looks – both smart and casual.“
