MIZEN TO MALIN FUNDRAISER - STORY & PICS
The Mizen Head to Malin Head Cycle 2012
Nissan supporting Kilmacud Glenalbyn Sports Club
& Breast Cancer Ireland
We are indebted to Gerry Park for the inside story, and some revealing photos, on the Mizen to Malin fundraiser at the end of May - thanks so much! Scroll to the bottom to see just a small selection of the pics .... more to follow. If you haven't donated yet please click on this photo of Paul Gallagher and Vinny Patterson - as you can gauge from the story below these lads deserve your support .. as do the two causes being supported! Go on - why not click now!
On 30th May 18 cyclists set out from Mizen Head, Co. Cork to cycle to Malin Head Co. Donegal in the cause of raising funds for Kilmacud Glenalbyn Sports Club and for Breast Cancer Research in Ireland. The initial cyclists were Fionan Daly, Eoin Lyndon, Paul Gallagher, Gerry Greene, Ronan Conway, Dave Byrne, Pat Conlon, Tommy Whelan, Frank Rutledge, Kevin Foley, Kevin Coakley, Mark Cregg, Pat Halpin, Conor Lyndon, Tommy Mannion, Denis Murray, Hugh Campbell and Donie Dowling and these were joined later along the way by Pat Rowley, Mick Garry, Brian Greene, Kevin Mulligan, Eamonn Doherty, Robbie and Florence Kelleher, Tommy Lyons and Declan O'Hanlon.
Nissan supplied the van for transportation of the bikes from Dublin to Barleycove and back from Malin to Glenalbyn, driven by Vinny Patterson, acting as rear guard along ther oute, accompanied by Gerry Park. SATTAL also made their Nissan Pathfinder available which was manned by Liam O'Flaherty, who acted as scout and advance guard.
OnWednesday morning the cyclists left the hotel in Barleycove to climb the hill to the start of the cycle, at Mizen Head, County Cork, for the M2M Challenge. Before heading off Frank Rutledge addressed the team to give instructions on the rules of the road and on staying together as a group and strongly advised against ‘rear wheeling' calling on all for strict discipline on the journey ahead!
The first target on Day 1 was Tralee, approximately 156 km, through Glengarriff, Kenmare, Molls Gap and Killarney. We arrived in Tralee, Co. Kerry at about 16.30 where we stayed at the Grand Hotel.
On Day 2, Thursday, the cyclists were up early and started from Tralee at 8am on the journey to Oranmore in Galway. At10.30 we were sailing on the Tarbert ferry across the mouth of the Shannon river to Quilty, Co. Clare (Pat Burke country!) and then on to Ballyvaughan and Kinvara until we reached Oranmore around 18.00, some 172 km later.
On Friday, Day 3, at 8.40 the peleton began their 135 km cycle from Oranmore to Sligo through Tuam, Ballyhaunis, Tubercurry and on to Sligo arriving at 18.00 where we stayed for the night at the Glasshouse hotel.
The Day 4 cycle began at 9am in Sligo heading North. Taking a detour through Mullaghmore we progressed through Laghey and Ballybofey before reaching Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, atapproximately 16.30, a distance of about 116km.
The final leg on Day 5 kicked off at 9.30 when the cyclists began their trek of circa 85 km. This took them from Letterkenny via Buncrana and on to Malin Head, the destination and final target of the cycle, which ended at approximately 16.00.
Along the routes from M2M a good time was had by all and there many happy and cheerful events and .... maybe there are some stories which will be told in time! But anyway, everyone arrived at their destinations safe and sound. However one event involved the keys of Florence's car which were deliberately hidden from her in Ballyhaunis: Robbie and Florence were setting off to cycle to Kilmacud but were deprived of the enjoyment of the cycle home when the keys were discovered!