Saturday 21st July 2018 saw Brendan Hoare, Mike O Sullivan, Diarmuid Keane, John Flynn and Shane Flynn undertake a massive challenge – a 176K Cycle from Cloghane, Kerry to Minihanes Bar, West Cork in memory of cousins Mark and Brian Houlihan.❤️
Here’s Brendan’s update on the day here:
A huge thanks to my fellow cyclists Mike O Sullivan, Diarmuid Keane, John Flynn and Shane Flynn ,…they were brilliant , couldn’t have picked a better team!
We departed Cloghane/Brandon Community Centre at 7am on Saturday morning. Thanks to all the local people who turned out to see us off and especially Siobhan O’Connor , Shirley O Driscoll, Ann Marie and Sinead O’Dowd who treated us to tea, coffee, scones and fruit at the O Connor home at Teer cross. Jo Anne Houlihan, (sister of Mark) was present, Eileen and Sharon O Sullivan recited a prayer which had been very appropriately composed for the occasion.
The dry calm weather conditions were perfect for cycling . We got through Tralee and Killarney in good time and reached our first food stop at Molls gap ahead of schedule, our support team of Ed and John Hoare , Margaret Hoare and Margaret Moore were there to provide us with all the necessary sustenance to keep us going for the second half of the journey.
Next it was on to Kenmare and over the Caha pass , this was a tough climb coming at this stage with the temperature rising and so much mileage on the legs but when we got over the top we were rewarded with fabulous views of West Cork and a long downhill spin into Glengarrif . Then on to Bantry and from there to Ballydehob where we were greeted by a local cycling group led by Stephen Casey , at Kilcoe, we were joined by Patjoe Houlihan , having them join us lifted our spirits and it gave us a welcome boost to have them accompany us for the final leg all the way to Lisheen . At 5pm we crossed the finish line at Minihanes Bar where the Houlihan family joined by Father Cahill and a large group of friends and neighbours gave us a very warm West Cork reception.
Although we were delighted and relieved to have completed our journey the occasion was tinged with sadness as the loss of Mark, Brian, and his mother Teresa was very much in everyones’ thoughts .
We would like to thank everyone who helped and supported us for this event . Thanks to Martin (father of Brian ), Jo Anne , and all the Houlihan family for supporting us and sharing in our hope that it might help in some way in preventing some other family going through the loss that they have suffered .
Thanks to the following …. Cathriona Curran for use of the Community Centre, Mike, Joss and Ciara Keohane and the staff at Minihanes for their hospitality, Patricia, Peig, Niamh , Sarah and Eimear who had a lovely meal prepared for us at the Houlihan home. Mick , Ann Marie, Mairead, and the Houlihan and Cotter families who provided showers and accommodation. A special thanks to Lucia Ebbs from the C . R. Y. charity who has provided great support to us from the beginning, all those who supported, sponsored , donated and gave so generously to this very worthy cause. We are overwhelmed by the good will and generosity we have received in both communities, and the funds will be of great benefit to the C.R.Y. charity in their efforts to provide screening and support for affected families. Well done everyone!
