One woman and her dog (and her horse)

This morning residents of West Cavan will see a trio of travellers wend their way south from Blacklion to Dowra in the first leg of an astonishing journey.

Sandra Schmid runs the Hairy Henry Care Farm in Bantry in West Cork. The farm supports children and adults with additional needs by offering therapeutic and educational activities with our therapy horses and around the farm.

Hairy Henry Care Farm supports people to deal with emotional, social, physical, mental or educational challenges. People of all abilities can benefit from engaging with the therapy animals and farming activities on offer.

The reason Sandra is embarks on this journey is to augmenting the facilities on offer at the farm: “In 2021, we were very lucky we were able to get some funds to raise a much needed barn, but there is still lots of work to finish everything, and the funds are used up.”

To facilitate it's completion Sandra and companions, Flora the horse and Trudi the dog, will walk the Breffni to Beara way in the unique fundraiser: “We will be stopping in several places to meet and greet and raise awareness of our fundraiser campaign and the great therapeutic benefits animals can bring to people.”

Sandra said she is looking forward to the journey: “We decided to follow the rout of the walking trail. Normally people start at Beara and travel north to Breffni, but we are travelling south, with the sun on our face and hope to reach home by Good Friday.”

Sandra has already got great supported for the two and a half week trek: “People have been so generous. I started out booking places to stay, but when word got out people got in touch to offer places to stay along the way.”

In the next tow and half week the trio will travel through Drumshanbo, Creggs, Clockjordan, Newmarket and other towns on the rout before reaching their final destination.

If you would like to know more about the cause and the fundraiser you can go to www.gofundme.com Hairy Henry's homeward bound tour.