MALIN TO MIZEN: February 2008

Welcome

Over the course of eights days in late May 2008, three Cork men (Sean Twomey, Donal Twomey and Enda Hurley) living on the southside of Dublin, cycled the length of this great country of ours - from her most northerly tip, Malin Head to her most southerly outlay, Mizen Head. Our 751.25km cycle commenced on Saturday 24th May and finished on Saturday 31st May 2008; our route down along the west coast included stop-overs in Ballybofey, Rosses Point, Westport, Salthill, Lahinch, Tralee and Kenmare.

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Malin Head

Mizen Head

Fundraising

We undertook this cycle to raise funds for Cope Foundation. Cope Foundation is a charitable organisation based in Cork that does amazing work, catering for over 1600 children and adults with intellectual disability through its systems of early intervention, schooling, training, adult day services, supported employment, housing, information and advice at 60 locations throughout Cork city and county. For further information go to http://www.cope-foundation.ie/index.php

We bore all our own costs in relation to the cycle (bikes, accommodation etc.) thus all monies raised by us went directly to Cope Foundation. As a means of raising funds, we organised a charity jive dancing night on Friday 9th May 2008 at the Garda Club, Harrington Street, Dublin 8. Click Here for Photos on Picasa.

In the end, through a combination of the Jive Night and donations, we raised a grand total of €3,520 which we presented to John Clifford of COPE in July.

Jive Night

With John Clifford of COPE Foundation

Malin Head to Ballybofey

Day One from Malin Head to Ballybofey via Malin, Carndonagh, the Lough Swilly ferry from Buncrana to Rathmullen, Ramelton, Letterkenny and Stranolar. Clocked Up 88.46 km

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Lovely early desent along the coast down into Malin village. Onwards to Carndonagh, coming out of which we tackled the first tough climb of the week. Lovely cycle onto Buncrana from where we took the Lough Swilly Ferry across to Rathmullen. Stopped in Ramelton for lunch before journeying onto Letterkenny. First blow of the week came in the form of a puncture to Donal's back wheel but we still just about managed to reach Stranorlar/Ballybofey in time for the Heineken Cup final after a very tough climb coming out of Letterkenny. We watched Munster's terrific win in the "great" rugby pub that is McGuigans Bar and later had dinner at the Villa Rose - excellent.

All Set For The Off At Malin Head

Malin Head

Malin Village

Beach at Rathmullen on Lough Swilly

Ballybofey to Rosses Point

Day Two from Ballybofey to Rosses Point via Donegal, Ballyshannon, Bundoran and Drumcliff. Clocked Up 95.02 km

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Tough early climb out of Ballybofey and through the picturesque Barnesmore Gap with the Blue Stack mountains to our right. Stopped briefly at the diamond in Donegal Town before Donal got another puncture just before Ballyshannon. We stopped in Bundoran for lunch and upon leaving the seaside town, we caught a first glimpse of Ben Bulben. After an ever-so-brief trek into Leitrim, we entered county Sligo. With Ben Bulben on our left, the Atlantic to our right and the sun above us, what better way to spend a Sunday afternoon! We visited W.B. Yeats grave at Drumcliff, just a few kilmetres short of our destination. Upon arrival at Rosses Point, we took a walk around the area before later eating at The Embassy in Sligo town - quiet but very nice.

Donegal Town

Ben Bulben

Drumcliff

Rosses Point

Rosses Point to Westport

Day Three from Rosses Point to Westport, via Sligo, Ballynacarrow, Tobercurry, Curry, Charlestown, Swinford and Castlebar. Clocked Up 114.62 km

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Arose to glorious sunshine. It was main roads all the way once we reached Sligo. Stopped briefly in both Ballynacarrow and Tobercurry before having lunch in Swinford. Failed to find any shop selling '99s' in Castlebar so it was onwards to Westport where our longest day in the saddle culminated with a stiff and very unwelcome climb up into the town. We later spun out past Croagh Patrick and bathed our tired limbs in the sea at Old Head beach. Had dinner in Sol Rio - superb - and wandered across to Matt Molloys for one before calling it a day.

Croagh Patrick from Westport Quays

On The Beach At Old Head

Croagh Patrick From The Beach At Old Head

Westport to Salthill

Day Four from Westport to Salthill via Paltry, Ballinrobe, Neale, Headford and Galway. Clocked Up 83.82 km

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The skies were clear but weather forecast not so promising. Our easiest day - short and flat. Came through Paltry before stopping briefly in Ballinrobe. Decided not to take the main road to Headford, but rather to go through Neale. The easterly wind began to freshen and plenty dark clouds were hovering before we arrived in Headford, where we had lunch. Thankfully it was less than 30 km to our final destination but we failed to beat rain into Galway. Wound our way through the city, passing its famous cathedral, and out to Salthill. Gladly the rain had not been very heavy, and we spun out to Barna and Spiddal, before we were treated to a feast-and-a-half at the Woods residence - superb. We later met up with the 'Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind' cyclists in Eyre Square who were en route from Mizen to Malin.

Someone Is Ready For Us!

Salthill to Lahinch

Day Five from Salthill to Lahinch via Galway, Oranmore, Clarinbridge, Kilcolgan, Kinvara, the Burren, Ballyvaughan, Fanore, Doolin, the Cliffs of Moher and Liscannor. Clocked Up 101.66 km

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The day started as the previous day finished, weaving through Galway city traffic, this time in order to take the coast road out to Oranmore. Continued onwards for Clarinbridge before briefly stopping in Kilcolgan. We soon came to the picturesque sea port village of Kinvara and then crossed into county Clare. The karst rolling hills of the Burren provided a unique backdrop for the next few hours. We had an earlier than usual lunch stop at the novelly-named Tea Junction in Ballyvaughan from where we chose the longer coast road around Black Head rather than the slightly more-testing main road. By now the sun was blazing down - so much for our doom-and-gloom weather predictions!! The Aran Islands came into view as we reached Fanore and as we approached Doolin, the magnificent Cliffs of Moher appeared. There were many tough climbs and sharp descents on what turned out to be our toughest day in the saddle, but we were under blue skies in one of the nicest parts of the world! The downhill in Liscannor was welcome and we arrived in Lahinch a little bit later than expected. That night we treated ourselves to dinner at the Admiralty Lodge's piano room restaurant in Spanish Point - absolutely superb - a truly five-star dining experience.

Dún Guaire Castle, Kinvara

At The Tea Junction In Ballyvaughan

Ballyvaughan Pier Against The Backdrop Of The Burren

A Local Onlooker

The Cliffs Of Moher

Lahinch to Tralee

Day Six from Lahinch to Listowel via Spanish Point, Quilty, Cooraclare, Kilrush, the Shannon Ferry from Killimer to Tarbert, and Listowel. Clocked Up 98.75 km

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The leg muscles took a little longer to warm up after the previous day's exertions and brief early stops at Spanish Point and Quilty were welcome. We left the coast road and headed directly for Kilrush via Cooraclare, and onwards to catch the Shannon Ferry from Killimer to Tarbert. Grabbed a quick sandwich before the crossing over to county Kerry. The road from Tarbert was as flat as we had encountered all week and we stopped in Listowel where the annual writer's festival was taking place. The final leg into Tralee featured a gentle climb and descent - and thankfully the threatened rain stayed away. After a quick spin out to Banna beach, we had dinner at Finnegans in the town centre - very nice.

Ready For The Off In Lahinch

Spanish Point

John B. Keane in Listowel

Tralee to Kenmare

Day Seven from Tralee to Kenmare via Farranfore, Killarney, Glenflesk and Kilgarvan. Clocked Up 77.72 km

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The sun may have been shining as we left Tralee but suddenly the skies opened as one of the forecasted thunder storms unleashed itself - and on the open roads there was nowhere to shelter. The deluge didn't last for too long but spirits were still lower than usual when we stopped briefly in Farranfore. Thankfully we had dried up considerably by the time we reached Killarney and had lunch. Rather than taking on Molls Gap, we decided to take the longer, flatter route via Glenflesk and Kilgarvan. Arrived in Kenmare nice and early where we were staying at our finest residence of the week, the Shelburne Lodge. Had dinner in Mulcahy's - excellent - and later the three girls who were cycling the final leg with us, Sandra, Michelle and Lornie, arrived down from Dublin so we went for a drink in O'Donnabhains.

In Sight Of Home Outside Killarney!

Kerry Countryside

Kenmare

Kenmare to Mizen Head

Day Eight from Kenmare to Mizen Head via Bonane, Glengariff, Bantry, Durras and Goleen. Clocked Up 91.04 km

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The final day began with the toughest climb of the week - a 350 metre ascent over the Caha mountains. Once negotiated, we free-wheeled down into Glengariff and onto Bantry where we had lunch. It was now time to say goodbye to Patricia who unfortunately would not be at Mizen Head by the time we would arrive as she had a hen party to go to later. We stopped in Durras for '99s' but the up-and-down nature of the terrain meant it was slow progress onto the 'Mizen village' of Goleen. The final twelve kilometres from Goleen and in particular the last three brought the most unwelcome climbs of the week. But finally we arrived at Mizen Head - and to a fanfare welcome from the Hurley clan and friends! Having popped the champagne, the nature of our feat began to set in - 751.25 kilometres of effort. On such a lovely warm evening, we were in no rush to leave Mizen Head, but eventually headed for Schull. Dinner that evening was at the Waterside in Schull where the group had swelled to thirteen. Afterwards it was on to Hackett's Bar where - as well as lovely pints - there was a large map of Ireland. And you couldn't take the smile off my face as I peered up at Malin Head and eyed the route right down to Mizen. Just a wonderful, wonderful week!!