Marty and Deon cycle into sunset

Marty and Deon cycle into sunset

4 July 2018

A FEW months back Deon McNeilly was approached by fellow Shimna Wheeler Marty McVeigh asking if he would like to cycle the 32 counties. 

Marty, now retired for a number of years and who spends most of his free time being Forest Gump on a bike, while Deon still works for a living. Dates and duration were required — five days duration agreed and few possible dates given. 

All they had to do was wait for good weather to fit in with the possible dates. The route rules simply being enter and leave each of the 32 counties of Ireland during the trip.

Week commencing June 25 the forecast looked good and start planned for 7am the following morning in Newcastle.

Bicycles loaded with gear, compromising of the minimum possible, spare tubes, pump, tools, tooth brush, water bottles, flip flops, one T-shirt and one pair of shorts to change into each night was all that was needed.

The route was planned using Komoot navigation software and loaded on to a Wahoo Element bicycle GPS. 

On day one the weather was overcast, but warm with light winds, perfect cycling. Carlow was the target and counties, Down, Armagh, Louth, Monaghan, Cavan quickly ticked off.

By Lucan in Co Dublin the skies were blue and sun was beating down with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees. 

The hills started in Wicklow approaching Blessington, followed by Kildare via Castledermot and by 8pm Carlow town, with an overnight at Racey Byrne’s B&B and a meal in Reddy’s Pub across the road. Ten counties, 144.4 miles and 5,850 feet completed.

Day two started at 6.30am target Newcastle West. By now, papers were reporting Ireland was in a heatwave with the highest recorded temperatures since 1976.

Temperatures on the bike computer often exceeding 40 degrees. By 7pm it was clear with 119 miles completed, 5584 feet climbed and Laois, Wexford, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Cork crossed, the target wouldn’t be reached. 

Quick search along Kilmallock main street located Fitzgeralds B&B, who didn’t have a twin room, but offered two doubles rooms for €30 each without breakfast, but a free barbecue to celebrate the World Cup made for a cheap stop.

Day three with another 6.30am start to take advantage of the cooler temperatures and target of Athlone. 

Newcastle West was quickly reached and Limerick County ticked off and on to Kerry and the Tarbert ferry to Killimer in County Clare reached by 9.30am.

The real test came with the hills of the Atorick bog which was the shortest to Portomna in Galway. It wasn’t just the brutal heat and steep hills, but the molten tar, with gravel jamming the wheels which could only be cleared by stopping and rolling the bike backwards. 

By 6pm Portmuna was reached only four counties and 110 miles with 4091 feet, but it was decided best to stop for the night rather than risk not making Athlone. Enquires at the local Post Office identified a number of excellent B&Bs and one that must be avoided at all costs. 

Soon, all the B&B’s were eliminated either fully booked or the host had one look at the state of the cyclists and decided it would be better to wait for guests that didn’t smell as bad. It was therefore on to the one to avoid at all costs, it was in an excellent location between a fast food outlet and a pub. 

The initial response wasn’t good, they were closed, but after a bit of negotiation, stating that any form of accommodation would do and that breakfast wasn’t required, a room with three beds was secured for €40.

Day four, starting at the now normal 6.30am, it was off to the target of the day Manorhamiton in Leitrim, which had to be reached or it wouldn’t be possible to finish in five days. Fortunately, Offaly, Westmeath, Longford and Roscommon were flat with a tail wind making progress good.

On the way to Mayo, however, the shortest route to the county brought more remote hills and even higher temperatures.

The only choice to get water was to call at houses, in one the elderly lady of the house, who had just loaded peat into the stove to cook dinner was surprised to know how cyclists ended up in such a remote location. 

Mayo was quickly crossed and into the still remote roads of County Sligo, another water stop was needed and a house located. Unlike the last house with a peat stove, this one looked more up market. 

A young lady got out of a white Mercedes and was asked if an outside tap was available for water. She replied that due to cryptosporidium the tap water couldn’t be drunk, but bottled water out the fridge wouldn’t be a problem. 

At that moment a voice was heard from nowhere, on closer investigation in was from a nearby shed, on looking in there was a man soaking in a jacuzzi. He asked if the cyclists would like a can of cold cider, the response had to be no if Manorhamilton was to be reached. 

A few other Shimna Wheelers may have decided the offer was too good and finished the trip in the hot tub. After 132 miles and 3,520 feet, Manorhamilton was reached by 7.45pm and the cyclists checked into Hamilton Town House B&B.

Day five started at 7.45am as the host was the only B&B to offer breakfast early. Donegal was crossed swiftly via Cloghore part of Beleek that is in the south and it was on to Kesh in Fermanagh, Tyrone crossed via Omagh brief visit to Derry via Coagh and onto Antrim and Aghagallon.

Jackie McNeilly and daughter Sam had kindly offered a pick-up service in Moira as by then all 32 counties had been entered and exited to comply with the original challenge. Moira was reached by 7pm and 116 miles and 4,675 feet completed. 

All 32 counties completed in five days in excessive heat, with no punctures and 622 miles ridden, 23,723 feet climbed and 48 hours on the bicycles.