Alan Heaney, a part-time farmer and agri-business owner, alongside a six-strong group of cyclists, will complete a 1,100KM track spanning from Derry City to Kinsale in Cork, next week.
The initiative is the brainchild of Heaney, co-founder and owner of Efficient Farm Solutions, Lely Centre Mullingar & Efficient Farm Systems.
He started the Ultra-Cycle challenges when a young girl in his hometown, Swinford, Co. Mayo, became sick, and he cycled from Mizen Head to Malin Head in three days to raise funds for her.
He then wanted to push himself and took on his next big cycle over two days, and then completed his next 600KM cycle in 23 hours.
Alan first started cycling as a way to keep fit after finishing taking part in group sports.
He has completed other long-distance cycles, including cycling the entire length of the UK in four days and from Lourdes to Knock in five days.
The group of Irish men have already raised €227,000 to date, and this year, they hope to raise another €50,000, bringing their total to €277,000.
The group will raise funds for three Irish charities:
- Mayo/Roscommon Hospice Foundation, who fund palliative care services in the community;
- Turn2Me, a national mental health charity;
- Hooves4Hospice, which is raising funds for the cost of building a planned midland regional hospice for the counties of Laois, Longford, Westmeath & Offaly.
100% of all donations go directly to these charities.
Route and ‘Agri Day’
The cyclists will begin on Wednesday, August 24th, 2022 and make their way along the coastline of the counties of Derry, Antrim, Down, Louth, Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford and Cork and all the coastal towns and cities on their journey. They will finish up on August 27th at Old Head in Kinsale, Cork.
The ultra-cycle has an ‘Agri Day’ on August 26th, which starts in Sandymount strand (at 7 am) and stretches 255km to Duncannon beach in Waterford.
This leg of the Ultra Cycle is open to all cyclists, particularly farmers or anyone wanting fun, laughs and a healthy, community, family day.
For more information on the Ultra Cycle, see this link.
