RAHENY SPACE CENTER · DUBLIN
MISSION TO MARS
THE 30-YEAR FLIGHT OF
DANIEL MAGUIRE
T‑MINUS 00 : 00 : 30
FLIGHT PLAN CLASSIFIED · CLEARANCE: THE CREW
We asked the crew: what have been the best memories with Commander Dan?
Late to the party? Only just joining Daniel’s voyage? There’s still time to add your memories, stories and favourite things about Dan.
“When he promised to be the other half of my pension.”
“Playing in the St Anne’s father and son golf tournament when Dan could barely hold a club.”
“For my birthday in 2025, Daniel was kind enough to surprise me with a trip to Abu Dhabi. This photo is of us standing on the 17th tee in Yas Links. From the moment we arrived, we couldn’t believe the condition of the course. It was so perfect that we genuinely thought that the first tee box was the putting green.
We spent over an hour on the driving range in 40-degree heat because we wanted to make the most out of the experience… which, in hindsight, turned out to be a mistake.
By the second tee, the heat had completely got to me. All the blood rushed to my head, and I honestly didn’t think I was going to make it through the round. I didn’t want to say anything because I didn’t want to ruin the day for Daniel. Thankfully, before I could say a word, he admitted he was feeling the exact same way! Somehow, hole by hole, we got through it and finished the round.
I’m not sure I’ll ever have a better golf experience in my life, but I’m certain there isn’t anyone else I’d rather have shared it with. Happy Birthday Daniel!”
“St Pete and St Pete 2.0. Invincible over there. Serious memories made with him and Jack. Buzzing for 3.0 baby.”
“Gotta be the Lockdown performance of Blinding Lights by The Weeknd. Took a while for Clumsy D’s hips to loosen up, but once they did he was on fire.”
“Let’s just say it’s about a gold chain and his communion!! Coming closely 2nd is our holidays in France as kids!!”
“Physics class 2013, Dan would describe his special move using a metal ruler as a prop.”
“God too many to choose from! From V Fest to Sziget to gold circle in Croker - we stood at the highest point in Croke Park touching the roof in row WW and in the blink of an eye we were running through Croke Park, champagne shower as Dan runs with my Prosecco through the crowds to enter golden circle for Coldplay 🙌🏼 what a night!!
Another one I know Dan loves is our first spin out to Malahide for a Beshoffs - best onion rings ever!!!”
“Dan sussing he was 1st in the class in a taxi on the way to Dicey’s (see pic attached).”
“Coldplay concert, Croke Park, July 2017. Myself, Becky and Dan had tickets to Coldplay in Croke Park. Becky and Dan were sitting up in the back row at the top of the stadium and managed to sneak their way down to standing, find me amongst the crowds, and we ended up front row for the whole night! Still the best concert I’ve ever been to!”
“At Coldplay concert in Glasgow, the night we realised our shared love for the music of Edwyn Collins - ‘I’ve never met a girl like you before.’”
“1) Oiling himself up on the boat in Greece.
2) Dan: ‘I bet you I can scroll 10 videos on TikTok and not one of them would be a woman’ - first scroll, Kneevo.
3) But in all seriousness, we’ve had so many amazing holidays and memories together, but one moment that really stands out was meeting Dan and his team earlier this year when he was in London. It was so nice to see everything he’s achieved in such a short space of time, hear how highly his team speaks of him, and see him genuinely thriving in an environment he’s worked so hard to get to. No one deserves it more. Now that we all live in different parts of the world, we don’t get to see the ins and outs of each other’s day, so as much as I knew he was loving life, it made me very proud and happy to see it first hand (I was slightly taken aback that I was trusted to be in said environment 🤣).”
“Going over to visit Dan for 3 weeks in Florida in 2022. It was amazing to see how far he’s come professionally and in general life. We spent those weeks just acting the ejjit and did everything from an NFL game to a trip to Orlando to play golf (one of the angriest and funniest rounds I’ve seen from Dan…). So no one moment stands out but it was just an overall amazing trip.”
“Either when we were travelling the West Coast of America and him, Collins and myself went for a hike in Big Sur National Park, and the three of us were sat up the top of a walking trail looking down on the valley - OR the hour before we headed up to my wedding when we were just sat around in the hotel room talking garbage to keep the nerves down.”
“The time in America where he came home late to everyone asleep, and decided to leave again for a few hours so he could make a grand entrance when everyone was awake, so that he could tell the story of the night.”
“Training for 5KMs, his impersonations of the Monk and many others, and just chilling in 84.”
“The less said the better… Trim Castle is all.”
“His speech at our wedding.”
“2023: when my younger sister was in town and we had a blast bar hopping from Goodnight Johnboy to Enigma to Parks and Rec. 2026: Rays game with country concert and micro wrestling at Fergs.”
“Ooooh too many to name - maybe the last time we went over to Disney! It was the best time, Peter drove us over, we had the most unreal bagels, it was the best day ever at the park, and we had the best luck getting on all the rides and eating at the restaurants!!”
“When we were in London, I tried so hard to get Daniel to try a drink and join in on the fun, but as usual, he refused every time! We ended up going to a wine cave where they served Cava, and I convinced him it was non-alcoholic when I knew it wasn’t… he only had 1 glass, but I felt very accomplished in my secret task. Sorry Danny!!!”
“Saddlebrook round when Michael got hammered. His partner gave him very strict warnings to come home with energy to work in the afternoon. Michael had a 6 pack at the turn and 2 more on the back 9. Fell asleep in the car before we even left the parking spot.”
“My favorite memory with Daniel? That’s impossible. It wasn’t one memory, it was the entire European Saga of Daniel. What was supposed to be a professional European roadshow slowly turned into a survival documentary.
It began in Oslo, where Daniel somehow managed to eat McDonald’s twice in less than 24 hours. He knew he had to look as American as possible in case they were watching. Couldn’t risk not being let back in. Things only escalated from there.
In Amsterdam, while everyone else was ordering cappuccinos, Daniel confidently requested… a warm glass of milk. Just a grown man, in a meeting room, happily sipping warm milk like it was the most normal thing in the world. He also revealed one of the most unsettling habits I’ve ever witnessed: if there isn’t a small spoon available to stir his coffee, he uses the handle of a large spoon. Not the spoon part. The handle. Apparently this is completely rational.
Somewhere along the way I also had to tie his tie, because Europe was proving difficult enough without adding Windsor knots to the itinerary. In Lugano, I may or may not have told the restaurant it was Daniel’s birthday, which resulted in them bringing him… you guessed it… warm milk.
We watched him have caviar for the first time, gave him crash courses in fine dining etiquette and how to exchange business cards in Asia, and generally tried to convince him that not every meal needed to resemble an American road trip. Meanwhile, our cultural excursions somehow included visiting every Louis Vuitton store we could find because Daniel was determined to get a passport stamp. City after city… nothing. It became less of a shopping trip and more of an archaeological expedition for a mythical stamp that may not even exist.
By the end of the trip we’d crossed multiple countries, met dozens of clients, and learned countless lessons. The biggest one? Never let Daniel order unsupervised.
Happy Birthday Daniel. Thanks for making every city infinitely more entertaining than it had any right to be.”
“Nothing specific we just love having him around!! Pool days, Fergs hangs, house parties and more! Dan is always down for a good time and a good hang!”
“My favorite memories of Daniel are when he really cracks up, of which there are many.”
We've had some comms, and the crew have a few words for Commander Dan.
“Daniel is the smartest, most hard-working person I know. He will have a solution to any problem in life. He is funny, independent and gets on with everyone. He deserves everything and more cause he’s earned it.”
“Unbelievable sense of humour. A kind hearted softie and always the smartest guy in the room. Close to his family and would talk to a brick wall. A true gentleman.”
“Dan is one of the most thoughtful, genuine and caring persons I’ve ever met, with an infectious laugh - always up for a mess!! And let’s not forget the brains!!!! Without those I may not have got a degree or ACA qualification!!”
“It’s hard to name just one thing - I’d have to say his kindness, his generosity, how good he is at making a cup of tea and how much he loves the gossip!!”
“Funny. Genius. Will laugh at virtually any joke.”
“He’s really wise beyond his years.”
“1) The contents of his iMessages 👀 2) His ambition in all aspects of life - he never does things by halves and is always looking for ways to push himself beyond where he is now. Whether it’s in sport, his career, with the people around him, or in his own personal growth, he’s constantly looking to improve, challenge himself, and see just how far he can go.”
“Dan is probably one of the most loyal friends you’ll ever come across. I’ve been able to lean on him more times than I can remember over the years and I have never been in doubt that he always has my best interests at heart! It’s one of the reasons I can call him a best friend - and I know even if we don’t see each other for a year or two we’ll pick up exactly where we left off.”
“He’s a real friend - will always make an effort and always there to help.”
“His confidence (Portugal holiday - DONE DEAL) and his style (buttons undone and tie halfway down his chest at the AF ball).”
“Genuinely good guy who is ambitious and positive.”
“His drive and determination.”
“He gets what he wants.”
“He is the other half of my pension.”
“His spontaneity… he’s also very thoughtful and a complete gentleman.”
“He’s a loyal and kind hearted person. He’s the nicest guy you’ll ever meet and he’ll always go out of his way to help you!”
“Daniel is the most nostalgic person I know. He particularly loves to start reminiscing about things that haven’t even happened yet… He remembers little details and appreciates them. He’s been (one of) the best gift givers ever!”
“His sincerity and generosity.”
“His feeling to not be a bother to anyone when it could be the simplest thing for him to ask.”
“The lad can chop it up. No piss (I think that’s an Irish saying).”
“His positivity! Always down to have a good time!”
“His sense of humour, his loyalty, how driven he is.”
“His kindness and generosity.”
“Dan is a caring, thoughtful, intelligent lad.”
“Daniel is a great audience because he laughs easily and often. He’s such a genuine, kind-hearted person. Few people possess a quality that makes them such likeable company to so many.”
It is time to kick off your 30th Birthday with weeks of celebration.
It's on us - all of it - including lunch. Thanks for (what will be) an amazing Florida trip. But if we win, we're taking back some cash!
Forget Islam vs. Makhachev at UFC 330 - the real headline is MAGUIRE stepping onto the mats. A full MMA class followed by a live sparring simulation.
After the fight, we feast. 9pm at Bern's - an absolute classic. And we're not leaving without hitting the dessert room.
Thirty years of ascent is enough. Fire the thrusters, kill your speed, and set the booster down gently on Pad 30. Land soft - or leave a crater with his name on it.
Having known you so long and so well, I see you being an incredible son, brother, and, as I experience all the time, friend. The months you were home, it was like you never left, and we once again made so many memories like the good ole days. We may not be in contact as much, but I always know I can count on you, and I know we pick it back up right where we left off. The jokes, the serious conversations, the great advice, all of it.
You are my oldest friend, and it has been so exciting watching you achieve all that you have in your life in the US. You bring up those around you, and you deserve every last drop. Everyone has said the same thing here, as you can see.
I can't wait for 30 more years of gigs, golf matches, and trips like this.
It's only the start of the celebrations!
We asked the crew: where do you see Dan in another 30 years (if not on Mars)?
“A member of Augusta National (not because of his golfing ability).”
“CEO of some mad tech company.”
“Hahaha if not on Mars god I wouldn’t be surprised! What else is left for this man and he’s not even 30?! Already been on live television before… got his dream retweet from Elon Musk that now is somewhat normal!! Driving his dream car, the famous Tesla! I hope Dan is back in Ireland (selfishly) hehe but living his best life and doing everything he enjoys - golf, spins in the Tesla and hosting us all for BBQs in blue skies without a cloud… ❤️”
“Succeeding his idol Elon as the CEO of Tesla.”
“Missing/stranded on some island after his yacht has had an accident.”
“Dan will be the #1 finance bro in Florida. He’ll probably pay for a seat on SpaceX’s public space rocket and he might finally have a Guinness with me!”
“Probably living in some mega high rise in the city with robots doing everything for him (in the best way possible).”
“The first 30 years of Dan’s life have been nothing short of extraordinary - I can only imagine the excitement, fun and success the next 30 years have in store for him! Wherever Dan is in the world, I’ve no doubt he’ll be chasing new adventures, living life to the fullest, and inspiring everyone around him with his determination and infectious enthusiasm for life!”
“Powerful CEO… but still a complete gentleman!”
“Retired on the golf course with the funkiest designed golf clothing/equipment possible.”
“On his PJ singing sweet nothings.”
“Retired, living on the hill in Raheny facing the water! There is no point working this hard now if you can’t call it a day early and sit back and relax.”
“Daniel will have been promoted another 10 times in the next 30 years. He’ll have bought his family a new house in Ireland, France, Florida, and wherever else they request!”
“Hopefully he has a tan by then. No excuse living in Florida as long as he has.”
“Probably St Pete still in the same apartment.”
“Single.”
“Still laughing and joking with me and Jack in IHOP most mornings. There’s only 1 Dan the man.”
“Living his best life in Raheny (in a mansion).”
“In sunny St Pete obviously!!!”
“CEO of the biggest company in the world!!”
“Being very successful at anything he puts his hand at!!”
“Retired (will have made all his money in the US) on the chipping range in St Anne’s.”
“On a Starship zooming between Ireland and Florida.”
“Visiting me in an old folks home (that he’s paying for).”
“Still working hard paying my pension.”
