On Wednesday, June 4th at 10:50am, I set off to take on the Ireland Way a solo mission covering the length of the country from the Beara Peninsula to Ballycastle. The journey was physically and mentally demanding, with unpredictable weather conditions adding an extra layer of challenge but ultimately making the experience even more rewarding.
I tackled the route mostly alone, supported by my girlfriend Annie and our dog Luna, who crewed me throughout. On one of the days, Sammy who saw what I was doing and reached out online and joined me for a stretch around his local area, which gave me a real boost when I needed it.
This run pushed me in ways I hadn’t fully prepared for especially mentally. But through troubleshooting, persistence, and some creative problem-solving, I kept moving forward. Several sections of the trail were overgrown or impassable, forcing me to reroute onto the road tough at times, but part of the adventure. I’m proud I stuck it out.
The route took me through some incredible, lesser-travelled parts of Ireland. It helped me connect more deeply with my Irish heritage, and I met some great people along the way who were full of encouragement and chat.
Getting to Ballycastle after it all felt huge. A real test but one I’m grateful for. 🙏