Gerard Touhey | A Long, Smashing Journey

The year was 2008. I was taking a class during one of my many trips to Chicago when I thought to myself, “Why not bring Aquascape to Ireland?” Next thing you know, I had a few guys and an 11-by-16-foot pond kit on a plane to build my first Aquascape pond in Ireland! Before I knew it, I was shipping containers over to Ireland and flying back and forth every other week, working here and there and even in France.

I’ve been in the pond business for 16 years, and boy, what a wonderful, smashing adventure it’s been! To think that I get to play in the dirt and move rocks around and get paid for it is crazy, but that’s what I do. It’s pure joy, fun and excitement, and I am at my happiest when I am building my ponds.

My adopted mother gave me $400 and a round-trip plane ticket to come to America in 1988 so that I could get a chance at living the American dream—what a gift. I can now say I am living it, and it’s smashing!

Ponds Around the World

I have installed a boatload of ponds in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, Mexico, France and Ireland. Several years ago, I was invited via Aquascape to build a pond at Disney World in Florida for the annual flower show at Epcot Center. What an amazing week! Being there, doing that work, it was crazy to think that I had come from Ireland with no job—really, with no future and no clue what I was going to be or do. And then, not long after, I was building a pond in Disney World.

When the pond season comes to a close each year, I miss it so much … but the off-season is a great time to travel to see family and friends, both here in the States and in Europe. I love to tour around Ireland and see all its beauty: going for walks, looking for rivers and waterfalls and just taking in Mother Nature. I also enjoy going out to nice restaurants and eating lovely food—and, of course, a good pint of Guinness as well.

>> This sidebar is part of the feature article, Water Garden Whimsy: Infuse Your Pond with Personality!