Charity Cycle
Eimear Browne
FOLLOWING the death of my cousin, Lee, last September, I was
inspired to raise some funds to improve the facilities for families
of patients in the Richmond Intensive Care Unit in Beaumont
Hospital. Lee had spent two weeks in Beaumont.
Being a keen cyclist I decided to cycle . . . somewhere! One evening I opened my map of Ireland on the kitchen floor and noticed that the lighthouses were marked. That was it-I would cycle around the entire coast of Ireland and visit 80 lighthouses. Why not? So, some phone calls and a visit to Irish Lights, and I was chomping at the bit to hit the road.
My four-month training began in January. My employers, Irish Ferries, were very generous. They allowed me two months off work and provided me with sponsorship which bought the bicycle for the trip. My aunt, Rose Kettle, kindly volunteered to be my back-up support. She followed me on four wheels. She had endless enthusiasm for fund raising, shaking her collection bucket in every village and town I cycled through.
I started from Rosslare on 5 May and headed up the east coast, my plan being to tour the coast in an anti-clockwise direction.
I had organised boats locally in order to get as close as possible to the 42 off-shore lights where I would take a photograph of the lighthouse. Sometimes I was lucky enough to have the weather, suitable tide, and time to land on some of the off-shore rocks. The RNLI helped me so much, either by organising someone local to take me out to an offshore light, or doing an exercise themselves. It was thanks to them that my trip went so smoothly.
Unfortunately I didn't get to meet as many Attendants as I would have liked to, but I want to thank those I did meet for their time and stories-Noel McCurdy, Rathlin Island; Eamonn McAteer, Fanad Head; Sean Doherty, Tory Island; John Hamilton, Sligo Lights (and Harry Ewing, Boat Contractor); Sean Jeffers, Inishgort; Vincent Sweeney, Blacksod; Noel Scanlon, Youghal; Tony O'Driscoll, Ballycotton; Paud Morrissey, Mine Head; and Tucks Tweedy, Hook Head.
I sent a message in a bottle from each lighthouse and have received six replies so far, four from Scotland and two from Co. Wexford. One bottle took just two days to get from Rathlin Island to Mull of Kintyre in Scotland!
Rose and I stayed in all types of accommodation as some people had heard about our venture on local radio and offered us a free bed for the night. We stayed in some hostels and even spent a night on a yacht in Fenit. I was blessed with the weather and, apart from a few showers, had only one really wet day in 2 months on the road. The bike was very comfortable to ride. I was also lucky enough to have only 2 punctures en route.
As I made my way around the coast Rose's bucket was filling by the day and our nightly task was to count and bag the funds ready for banking the next day.
One of the most memorable lighthouses was Skellig Michael. It was just an amazing place to visit and I timed it perfectly to see the thousands of gannets on Skellig Beag and puffins on Skellig Michael.
As I turned the south-west corner at Mizen Head and headed east I found I was reluctant to finish my roller coaster ride. I enjoyed every minute of it, so much so that I have a feeling I may do it all again-in the opposite direction, perhaps?
I finished back at Tuskar Rock on 4 July to a great welcome from the Irish Ferries' ship Normandy and her crew.
On 14 October I handed over a cheque for €53,588.18 to Beaumont Hospital. It is very satisfying to know that the families of patients will be able to get a good night's sleep in the beds I helped provide.
I want to say a big thank you to everyone who sponsored me and helped to make my trip so enjoyable, and such a success.
Being a keen cyclist I decided to cycle . . . somewhere! One evening I opened my map of Ireland on the kitchen floor and noticed that the lighthouses were marked. That was it-I would cycle around the entire coast of Ireland and visit 80 lighthouses. Why not? So, some phone calls and a visit to Irish Lights, and I was chomping at the bit to hit the road.
My four-month training began in January. My employers, Irish Ferries, were very generous. They allowed me two months off work and provided me with sponsorship which bought the bicycle for the trip. My aunt, Rose Kettle, kindly volunteered to be my back-up support. She followed me on four wheels. She had endless enthusiasm for fund raising, shaking her collection bucket in every village and town I cycled through.
I started from Rosslare on 5 May and headed up the east coast, my plan being to tour the coast in an anti-clockwise direction.
I had organised boats locally in order to get as close as possible to the 42 off-shore lights where I would take a photograph of the lighthouse. Sometimes I was lucky enough to have the weather, suitable tide, and time to land on some of the off-shore rocks. The RNLI helped me so much, either by organising someone local to take me out to an offshore light, or doing an exercise themselves. It was thanks to them that my trip went so smoothly.
Unfortunately I didn't get to meet as many Attendants as I would have liked to, but I want to thank those I did meet for their time and stories-Noel McCurdy, Rathlin Island; Eamonn McAteer, Fanad Head; Sean Doherty, Tory Island; John Hamilton, Sligo Lights (and Harry Ewing, Boat Contractor); Sean Jeffers, Inishgort; Vincent Sweeney, Blacksod; Noel Scanlon, Youghal; Tony O'Driscoll, Ballycotton; Paud Morrissey, Mine Head; and Tucks Tweedy, Hook Head.
I sent a message in a bottle from each lighthouse and have received six replies so far, four from Scotland and two from Co. Wexford. One bottle took just two days to get from Rathlin Island to Mull of Kintyre in Scotland!
Rose and I stayed in all types of accommodation as some people had heard about our venture on local radio and offered us a free bed for the night. We stayed in some hostels and even spent a night on a yacht in Fenit. I was blessed with the weather and, apart from a few showers, had only one really wet day in 2 months on the road. The bike was very comfortable to ride. I was also lucky enough to have only 2 punctures en route.
As I made my way around the coast Rose's bucket was filling by the day and our nightly task was to count and bag the funds ready for banking the next day.
One of the most memorable lighthouses was Skellig Michael. It was just an amazing place to visit and I timed it perfectly to see the thousands of gannets on Skellig Beag and puffins on Skellig Michael.
As I turned the south-west corner at Mizen Head and headed east I found I was reluctant to finish my roller coaster ride. I enjoyed every minute of it, so much so that I have a feeling I may do it all again-in the opposite direction, perhaps?
I finished back at Tuskar Rock on 4 July to a great welcome from the Irish Ferries' ship Normandy and her crew.
On 14 October I handed over a cheque for €53,588.18 to Beaumont Hospital. It is very satisfying to know that the families of patients will be able to get a good night's sleep in the beds I helped provide.
I want to say a big thank you to everyone who sponsored me and helped to make my trip so enjoyable, and such a success.