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Poyntzpass club, Redmond O'Hanlons GAC are not just 'talking the talk' but they are very much 'walking the walk' later this month, when 23 members of the local community embark on a wee stroll from GAA Headquarters in Dublin to O'Hanlon's ground in Poyntzpass. The 'HQ to Home' walk will see the intrepid walkers cover a total distance of around 71 miles over three days.
They plan to leave Croke Park around 7am on Friday 30 June and after leaving the city they will take the old Dublin Road (R132) through Swords, Balbriggan and Jullianstown to Drogheda where they will stay their first night. Saturday 1 July will see them take on the stretch from Drogheda to the Carrickdale and then Sunday 2 July they will be leaving from the Carrickdale to Poyntzpass around 10am. On the last day others can walk with them from the Carrickdale and some will join in Newry (just let the organisers know) with the group taking to the Newry Canal Towpath for the home stretch, and no doubt some well earned celebrations.
As these things usually are the idea was thought up over a pint by O'Hanlon's Coach and member of their Fundraising Committee, Robert O'Neill.
Michael O'Loughlin, an Inspector at Newry Bus Station, one of the hardy walkers recalls them being in Rices Hotel in The Pass on New Years Eve when O'Neill suggested the idea as a 2023 fundraiser. "I was like, there's no way I could do that" The idea snowballed and O'Neill put together a massive WhatsApp group of about 100 people and one day he announced they were going to start training.
O'Loughlin explains "It started one Sunday morning towards the end of February and whoever turned up, turned up and just did a good walk, and it sort snowballed from there. We just went walking every weekend, mostly Sundays' and then people were doing their own walks during the week."
Since then they have completed quite a few walks of 20 Miles plus with 'a few blisters here and there'. Everyone is signed up to Strava so you can see who's doing what, giving a bit of friendly competition to the challenge.
He emphasises that it's not a race, and they're just going to take their time and enjoy the experience. Whether that involves stopping for a wee quick pint or two somewhere along the way we may never know! Ever the diplomat O'Loughlin said "It's been talked about but we're not too sure."
The fundraiser has organically progressed from the Run For Raff challenges over the years in memory of Lissummon's Adrian Rafferty who died with leukaemia. Adrians sister Jacqueline also passed away this year and her partner Denis Toomey is one of the people taking part.
The fundraiser is raising money for three organisations. Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI, St. Joseph & St James Primary School and Redmond O'Hanlons.
You can donate via their GoFund Me page at www.gofundme.com
