TV star Timmy Mallett visits district during UK-wide cycle

TV star Timmy Mallett visits district during UK-wide cycle

3 April 2024

FORMER children’s TV presenter Timmy Mallett stopped off in the district last week during a marathon cycle across the UK.

The TV-am host and talented artist is pedalling thousands of miles in memory of his brother Michael, who sadly died in 2018.

After cycling across the Isle of Man, the 68year-old arrived in Northern Ireland on Tuesday and wasted no time making it to Co Down.

On Thursday he cycled into Portaferry where he visited the Exploris aquarium. From there he took the eight-minute ferry to Strangford and chatted with the skipper, first mate and members of the crew.

He described the crossing as “stunning” before venturing on to Ardglass, where the weather prevented him from visiting St Patrick’s Well. He ate at the Watersedge cafe and gift shop at the harbour, then rode to Coney Island describing it as “a very special pilgrimage”, before finishing in Dundrum for the night.

The next day he was served a “lovely breakfast” by staff members at Patrick Kielty’s favourite bar, the Dundrum Inn, before exploring Dundrum Castle where said he found views that will inspire him to paint.

From there he travelled to Newcastle. While walking along the promenade, he enlisted the help of Castlewellan actress Niamh McGrady and her friends to shoot a video of himself enjoying the cenery. 

Afterwards he ventured along the coast road, stopping off at Ballymartin to sketch the Mournes, and going on to Rostrevor where he visited the monument to Robert Ross, the man who burned down the White House in 1812.

You can follow the rest of Timmy’s journey on his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TheTimmyMallett.