Loughinisland man Barry in cliff-hanging challenge for charity

7 July 2021

A LOUGHINISLAND businessman is set to ditch his usual comforting bed for a rocky night’s sleep on top of a cliff.

Barry Smyth will be spending his slumber on a portaledge suspended from the edge of a 100-metre cliff-edge to raise money for Action for Children.

Barry (50) has decided to take on the ‘Boycott your Bed’ challenge at Fair Head, near Ballycastle, Co Antrim, with the hope of raising funds to help young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

The annual fundraiser sees children, families, friends and colleagues sleeping out in the most unusual places they can think of to raise money for vulnerable children across the UK.

Barry, managing director of MCS Group in Belfast, was impressed with the idea of the fundraiser after witnessing Paul Kellagher, children’s service manager for Action for Children, brave a similar feat last year.

Both men will undertake the challenge together this Friday at the location also known as ‘Dragonstone’ to Game of Thrones fans.

“The charity does truly amazing work supporting our most vulnerable young people and unfortunately the pandemic has resulted in a massive increase in the difficulties this section of our society faces,” said Barry.

“I hope that doing something really out there, like spending 12 hours on a cliff side, will encourage people to support us and give what they can for this great cause.”

Barry is on the NI board of businesses that usually supports the charity’s annual sleep out event, Byte Night, to raise funds for young people who face homelessness.

“The whole idea of Boycott Your Bed is instead of multiple people raising money by sleeping outside on a pitch as it did with Byte Night for example, it would encourage more members of the public to still take part individually,” he said.

“There are many people already around UK who are agreeing to sleep in bizarre places, from a zoo to a bath, to underneath their stairs.”

Barry decided to brave the cliff-edge in hopes that the more obscure the venue, the more people may wish to donate to the charity which is close to his heart.

“I always like to challenge myself, but I thought how could I get the most donations possible. I was thinking I could do some sort of endurance running or cycling, but I thought this would catch the imagination of people.

“I wanted to do something significant and to me this really is. I am afraid to go up a ladder, I have the fear when I try to clean my spouting at home so this really is a test for me but the charity is so worthwhile.”

Despite Barry entering this annual challenge as a complete novice, Paul has been recognised as one of Ireland’s most seasoned mountaineers with wide experience some of the highest peaks in the world including the Alps and Mont Blanc.

Paul decided to take Barry on a practice run, albeit at a much smaller height in the hillside above the quarry on the Newry Road, outside of Castlewellan.

“We did a training day which involved abseiling above the quarry, that is the part I think I am most nervous about,” said Barry.

“We have to abseil over the top of the 100-metre cliff to get down to the portaledge, and 12 hours later when we pack up to go home, we have to scale back up the mountain,” he continued.

“This is completely new to me, Paul was showing me how to climb to the top again, there won’t be any footholds so I’ll have to be dependent on just the ropes and even doing that just in the quarry was difficult.

“Climbing off and onto the portaledge on the day is going to be the hardest without a doubt.”

There is also the added incentive of time for both Barry and Paul, as they will be streaming from the cliff back to Action for Children’s headquarters at 6.30pm in running with the charity’s live event which will be on display.

“We want a bit of a breeze to keep any bugs off of us, and we are also hoping for a dry night but if the rains blowing we will have a slight cover. I feel a lot more confident that Paul is there in his own portaledge beside me.”

However, taking a portaledge to a height of 100 metres is a new venture for Paul, but the experienced mountaineer remains completely condiment in his ability.

Paul also believes the challenge will make a huge difference to the lives of those who need help most.

“In the last year our services have gone above and beyond to support young people through the pandemic,” said Paul.

“Our voluntary income from donations has made a real difference supporting young people’s mental health and a range of other additional needs that arose as a result of the pandemic.”

As well as raising funds for the charity, Paul also hopes to raise awareness of the issues for young people who are homeless.

“We were able to continue to support young people through weekly job search emails, CV support, well-being packs, cooking on a budget program and so much more,” he said.

“We saw it as extremely important that we continue connecting with the young people, ensuring they remain positive and had hope for the future throughout the restrictions, as we helped them focus on what would come when they eased.”

Barry’s workplace, MCS Group, has been supporting Action for Children for the past three years through fundraising events and staff fundraising.

Action for Children protects and supports vulnerable children and young people by providing practical and emotional care and support, ensuring their voices are heard and campaigning to bring lasting improvements to their lives.

With 476 services in communities across the UK, the charity helps more than 387,000 children, teenagers, parents and carers a year.

“MCS are so proud to support Action for Children. The charity does truly amazing work supporting our most vulnerable young people and unfortunately the pandemic has resulted in a massive increase in the difficulties this section of our society faces.

“We believe all young people should have the chance to have a happy and healthy life regardless of their background,” said Barry.

“We are delighted to play a small part in helping Action for Children achieve that. After this challenge I will be donating my portaledge to the charity so they can use it for future events.”

Those interested can get involved with their own fundraising efforts by joining Barry and Paul in signing up for Action for Children’s boycott your bed.

Visit www.boycottyourbed.co.uk/regional for more information about Friday’s virtual sleep out. Anyone wishing to support Barry can do so at his Just Giving page – https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/barry-smyth2

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