Timmy's 'utterly brilliant' cycle

By Róisín McManus

British television presenter and broadcaster Timmy Mallett has described counties Cavan and Monaghan as “stunning counties,” during his ongoing cycle through Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands.

Best known for the ‘Mallett’s Mallett’ game on children’s television programme Wacaday, and hit ‘Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie...’, Timmy has been documenting his recent journey following the River Shannon route across social media over the past number of weeks.

In remembrance of his late brother Martin, who had Down Syndrome, Timmy placed two sticks, one wrapped with his name and another with Martin’s, at the River Shannon’s source in the Shannon Pot.

Guided by the river, Timmy will continue his journey until he reaches Limerick near the end of April, and discovers which stick made it there first.

“He would live every day in the moment, in the here and now,” Timmy says fondly of his brother, who is always in his heart and encourages him to “make the most” of every day.

He has already spun through several counties in the Northwest including Donegal, Fermanagh and Leitrim.

Speaking to the Celt during his stay in Lough Rynn Castle Estate, Timmy was getting ready to set off for Longford town as he entered the third week of his legacy tour.

“Yesterday, somebody stopped me to say, ‘I have a Down Syndrome son and what you’re doing for Down Syndrome is really important for us’,” he tells this newspaper. “I find that delightful and that wouldn’t happen if I was in a car.”

Timmy’s journey took him across the region from Clones to Monaghan across “the wonderful quirky bit of the border” at Drummully into Blacklion and Swanlinbar.

“The landscapes fill me with joy,” he says of the area.

“I love the connection in Swanlinbar with Johnathan Swift and Gulliver’s Travels,” he enthuses, referring to the mural that was recently painted in the middle of the town. Swift had family in Swanlinbar, and wrote part of his novel while staying there; 300 years ago this year.

“Clones is a little gem, often missed,” he continues, describing the patron St Tiarnach as “fabulous.”

“I love the fact he’s the patron saint of toothache, headache and probably heartache for Monaghan GAA fans because they’ve never won the All-Ireland final,” he jokes.

Timmy is painting along his journey, influenced by the scenic landscapes and historic landmarks he passes each day.

One of his paintings is of The Diamond in Clones, a “particular favourite” of his with St Tiarnach’s Church and the ancient Celtic stone cross.

“That Diamond is one of the finest in the country,” he praised. “It just leads your eye up the hill to this fabulous spectacle.”

Despite recent bouts of bad weather, Timmy will not let the weather dull his sparkle as he makes his way towards the mouth of the Shannon Estuary. You can keep up with Timmy’s journey on his social media, and his paintings are available at timmymallett.co.uk