CROAGH PATRICK TO SLIEVE PATRICK — 320KM. THE AIM BREAK 10-HOURS.
From the shadow of Croagh Patrick on Ireland’s west coast to the resting place of St Patrick in Co. Down.
Padraig Marrey of Western Lakes CC, who lives in Westport beneath the shadow of Croagh Patrick, is preparing to take on a demanding solo point-to-point cycling record attempt, riding from the statue of St Patrick at the foot of Croagh Patrick in Murrisk, Co. Mayo, to the statue at Slieve Patrick just outside Downpatrick, Co. Down.
The target is to cover the 320km journey inside 10 hours, requiring an average speed of over 33km/h for the entire ride.
But this isn’t simply a challenge against the clock.
Padraig is taking on the ride as a fundraiser for Cancer Fund for Children, with every cent raised going towards helping open the doors of Daisy Lodge in Cong, Co. Mayo.
Daisy Lodge provides a place where children affected by cancer, along with their families, can spend time together away from hospitals and the pressures of treatment.
For Padraig, the challenge has therefore taken on a purpose beyond cycling.
Two of his cycling buddies, Tom Bourke and Bryan Hyland, are also taking on an enormous endurance challenge of their own. In December, they will attempt the 3,000-mile World’s Toughest Row, spending weeks at sea as they row across the Atlantic.
Padraig’s thinking was simple:
“The lads are going to spend weeks on the water rowing as hard as they can, so I thought I’d help their fundraising by pedalling as hard as I can from one coast of Ireland to the other.”
The ride will support the fundraising effort for Cancer Fund for Children’s Daisy Lodge in Cong.
“Every cent goes towards opening the doors of Daisy Lodge in Cong. We appreciate every penny.” 
Donations can be made at:
idonate.ie/event/DaisyVoyage
STATUE TO STATUE — MAYO TO DOWN
The route will connect two iconic points associated with St Patrick — Croagh Patrick in Mayo and Slieve Patrick in Down — taking the ride from Ireland’s west coast across the island to the north-east.
It is a journey linking two counties, two coastlines and two places steeped in the story, history and legacy of St Patrick.
For Padraig, there is also something appealing about the simplicity of the challenge:
Start at one statue. Finish at another. Pacing the effort, fueling and hydration will be the biggest challenges.
There will be no teammate to share the workload, no wheel to sit behind and no one to take a turn on the front.
For 320km, Padraig will have to maintain the required pace while dealing with the road, terrain, traffic, weather, fatigue and everything else a long-distance point-to-point ride can throw at him.
A RETURN TO POINT-TO-POINT CYCLING
Point-to-point cycling was once a much bigger part of Irish cycling, and Padraig knows the format well.
Twenty years ago, he set a new point-to-point record from Mizen Head to Fair Head (the longest point to point in Ireland) in a time of 17 hours and 49 minutes — a record that still stands today.
This latest challenge carries the same spirit: take two significant points on the Irish landscape, connect them by bicycle and see what is possible.
At a time when ultra cycling continues to grow, the traditional point-to-point challenge has perhaps been overlooked.
This ride is an attempt to bring that format back into the spotlight — while raising money for a cause that will directly benefit families affected by childhood cancer.
The route will also showcase the extraordinary variety of the Irish landscape and the landmarks associated with St Patrick, connecting the west coast with the north-east and Mayo with Down.
CROAGH PATRICK → SLIEVE PATRICK
320KM → 10 HOURS
MAYO → DOWN
READ THE FULL ROUTE ITINERARY:
SUPPORT THE DAISY LODGE FUNDRAISER
Every cent raised will go towards helping open the doors of Cancer Fund for Children’s Daisy Lodge in Cong, Co. Mayo.
Donate:
idonate.ie/event/DaisyVoyage
