The long and winding road
Thomas Lyons
With the scorching sun blaring down last Sunday, Martin Sheridan (45) from Mountnugent concluded an epic journey that took him from one end of the island of Ireland to the other.
“It was great - one of the best things I have ever done,” the pig farm manager said on completing the final stages of his 557km trek in record temperatures.
As the rest of the country sweltered in the heat, Martin was delighted to be able to do something very worthwhile for a good cause: “It was grand. It was nicer than doing it in wet weather. Once I had lots of water to drink, it was grand. The country looks so well, it’s unbelievable,” he told the Celt on Monday afternoon.
Martin began his journey the previous Saturday morning at Malin Head in Donegal and he continued to walk 40 miles or more each day until reaching the Ring of Kerry at noon on Sunday. “I got a great reaction from people as I went along. Everyone was so welcoming and supportive. It really was a very enjoyable walk,” he said.
The father of two set himself the challenge three years ago when he was 43: “That was the same age as my father when the died,” Nicole, Martin’s wife, explained the background to the challenge. Martin’s father-in-law, Martin Smith, was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus in 1983 and died seven years later.
“We all know someone who has had cancer or who is going through treatment, be that a member of your family or a friend. My own story is that of my father in-law Martin Smith. He died in December 1990 leaving his wife Mary and family of four young children from 15 down to four years of age,” Martin explained. “Thankfully today advancement in research, early detection and treatment means that more people are surviving this cancer and go on to lead full lives.”
The Mountnugent man walked across the country to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society. He came up with the idea thanks to the Moylagh JFK 50-Mile Challenge - an annual walk that has raised almost €500,000 for the Irish Cancer Society since it began seven years ago.
Starting at Malin Head, Martin’s journey brought him through Enniskillen to Drumlish in Longford, Nenagh in Tipperary to Molls Gap before concluding in Sneem, Kerry: “I feel life is good at the present so I decided to set myself a challenge.
I love walking and, to date, have completed 14 marathons and this year I will complete my sixth JFK 50 mile challenge. What better way to spend nine days than walking 310 miles from Malin head in Donegal to Sneem in Kerry? I will have raised much needed funds for the Irish Cancer Society though the JFK 50 mile challenge. “Plenty have told me I’m mad and that I could not do it but I just thought of all those who are going through treatment for cancer and everyday they put one foot in front of the other and keep going not matter how difficult.”
Nicole said there were plenty of preparations in place before the journey started: “He always wanted to go to the Ring of Kerry.
The weather meant we had to make some changes to the schedule. We had plenty of water and sun cream. He left at 5:30am on Thursday morning and at 6:00am on Friday morning. Before that it was 6:30am or 7:00am.”
Martin says that he will not know how much he raised until this weekend: “I will know exactly how much I raised by next Saturday evening, hopefully it will be a good bit.”
If you want to contribute to Martin Sheridan’s fundraiser you can see go to the idonate page at:
https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/11369886_martin-sheridan-s-moylagh-jfk-extra-challenge—malin-head-in-co–donegal-to-the-ring-of-kerry–sneem-co–kerry-in-9-days-.html