Skydivers including Rosemount’s Padraig Browne, doing the ‘Ankh’ formation which is the Eygptian symbol of life, over the three Pyramids of Giza. Photo: Ralph Wilhelm.

Local farmer flies high over the Pyramids of Giza

Deirdre Verney

Published: Fri 31 Dec 2021, 6:32 PM

Last updated: Sun 2 Jan 2022, 9:28 AM

Falling at a speed of close to 120 miles an hour over the Pyramids of Giza is a world away from dairy farming in Rosemount. But that's just what Padraig Browne experienced on a trip of a lifetime recently when he got the chance to skydive over the famed pyramids which were constructed over 4,500 years ago.

He joined a group of 65 other skydivers, mostly from America and all over Europe, on the week-long trip to remember in Egypt back in early December.

“That was hands down the best thing I've seen from the air – the size, the setting, the history, it was amazing,” Padraig, who was dressed in the Rosemount colours, says of the experience flying by the pyramids which he says are even more impressive in reality.

“When you're standing there beside them they are 450 feet high which is like a small mountain here,” he adds.

The skydivers fell from the C130 Hercules military aircraft at almost 120 miles an hour. Photo: Ralph Wilhelm.

Jumping over 20 years, the Rosemount farmer started his journey in the Irish Parachute Club in Clonbullogue in Offaly, and admits from the get-go he was caught by the bug.

“20 years ago I did the first one and I never looked back from there. It's pure addictive. People often ask me do you ever get bored with it, but no, it's always different,” he tells the Westmeath Independent.

From there, he started jumping regularly, and later taking part in events, and then holidays started to centre around skydiving. In fact, he jokes that the skydiving community is like people into golf, life revolves around it, they are constantly looking for new places, and there is a real community and camaraderie among participants in the sport.

Having skydived all over Europe in places like Russia, Poland, Spain and Germany, Portugal and Ecuador in South America, to get the chance to skydive over the Pyramids in Egypt from 15,000 feet was another level and “one to hang on the wall,” he says, plus the fact he hadn't jumped abroad in two years made it even more special.

Some of the group, including Padraig Browne, pictured after landing.

“As holidays go, it was a good one,” he laughs, saying they were lucky enough with the weather to jump five times over several days and there was an added bonus in that the group jumped from C130 Hercules military aircraft carriers which were so big that you could run out rather slide out from the usual smaller aircraft.

So what of the sight on the way down, well Padraig says it was spectacular. “If you're looking East (of the Pyramids) there is a city of 20 million people as far as the eye can see which is Cairo from 15,000 feet. You never see that in pictures of the pyramids. Then if you're facing the other way, it's the Sahara, so there is sand as far as you can see and in the middle is the Nile,” he says of the stunning sight as you freefall for around a minute, then gliding where you can take in the scale of the scenery before landing.

Everyone taking part in the trip were very experienced skydivers, Padraig explains, saying he heard it on the grapevine and knew it was an opportunity not to be missed.

While up there, the group did some formations, deciding in mid-air which was captured expertly by specialised freefall photographers who have multiple cameras on their helmets. “They get some great shots. They really are artists in their own right because they have to line themselves up at the right angle. At the same time, everyone is falling at around 120 miles an hour, and so is the cameraman.”

“It's such a wonderful feeling,” he enthuses. “When you jump with people whether in Ireland or abroad, there's great camaraderie and you tend to make lifelong friends.”

Aside from jumping, there were also fortunate to have private sightseeing tours where they actually got to see inside the pyramids, the Great Sphinx of Giza, and tour around Cairo which he says is a city with a lot of history and is home to one of the oldest churches in the world.

Asked what his family make of his high adrenalin hobby, the Rosemount man says that they thought he was mad when he started but now they know it's just his thing, and they don't really bat an eyelid. This trip was a bit different, however, and they and other locals have been asking a lot more questions about it.

So what's next for Padraig? Well, he laughs that the bucket list items are getting ticked off alright, one by one. “You never know what is next. Hopefully, I'll be able to top this,” he quips.