Tomás Ó Conchúir (left) pictured with Caroline Martin and Seán Hickey at Tom McCarthy’s hall door at the start of the second annual Longest Day Cycle/Climb/Cycle Challenge in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Denise O’Connor (left) pictured Eileen Houlihan, Rathmore with Eileen Greaney and Gina Fagan at the start of the second annual Longest Day Cycle/Climb/Cycle Challenge in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Suzanne O’Sullivan (left) pictured with Sheila McCarthy and Caroline Martin at the start of the second annual Longest Day Cycle/Climb/Cycle Challenge in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Ready for Road: Michelle O’Sullivan, Castleisland (left) pictured with: James and Mary Nolan, Currow and Amanda O’Connor, Ballymacelligott at the start of the second annual Longest Day Cycle/Climb/Cycle Challenge in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Kevin Moran, (left) and Paudie Walsh, Castleisland and Ian McLoughlin, Athlone at the start of the second annual Longest Day Cycle/Climb/Cycle Challenge in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Organising committee members: Noreen Kerins (left) with Gina Fagan and Norma Moran taking shelter from the 6-30am downpour at the start of the second annual Longest Day Cycle/Climb/Cycle Challenge in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
In the Early Morning Rain: Bikes await their riders on the island at the start of the second annual Longest Day Cycle/Climb/Cycle Challenge in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Bikes in Focus: A last second, Longest Day Family Photograph just before the start of the second annual Longest Day Cycle/Climb/Cycle Challenge in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
John Downey, Castleisland (left) pictured with Gabriel Greely, Galway and Tom O’Sullivan, Castleisland at the start of the second annual Longest Day Cycle/Climb/Cycle Challenge in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Last minute details being relayed by Denny Greaney at the start of the second annual Longest Day Cycle/Climb/Cycle Challenge in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Follow the leader: Micheál Donovan about to get behind the wheel of the lead car at the start of the second annual Longest Day Cycle/Climb/Cycle Challenge in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
The organisers: Gerry Fagan (left) with Tom McCarthy and Denny Greaney at the start of the second annual Longest Day Cycle/Climb/Cycle Challenge in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
A Friday evening, group text from co-organiser, Gina Fagan set the tone for this morning’s early rout in preparation for the second annual Longest Day Cycle/Climb/Cycle Charity Event. Apart from the core of the message, it speaks volumes of the tight , attention to detail mindset of the group which pulled of another mammoth organisational undertaking today.
“Hi everyone,
The longest day is finally here can’t believe it’s tomorrow.
So, a few reminders, no grumpy heads in the morning only smiles as you’ve trained long and hard for this day. This time tomorrow you will be on Carrantuohill. Remember cycle and climb. Check in at Tom’s 6.15 am you’ll receive your tee shirt bib number and bag tag.
We will take your bag to Cronin’s yard. Climb only check in at 8.15 am behind in Cronin s yard. Please remember to bring your sponsorship cards if you have not returned them.
Remember it’s 10 degrees cooler at the top of mountain than at the bottom so bring light layers.
Good boots suncream food etc. Look forward to seeing you all tomorrow. Please see event page on Facebook or ring me or anyone of the committee if you have any questions – Gina.”
That set the agenda for the cyclists as they turned out in the early morning rain and smiled through it all. The pain would come later as the ‘old hands’ who had been on the trek last year knew too well.
This morning’s party took off in persistent rain and ground hugging clouds. Matters did get better however, and the day got progressively brighter and warmer.
The huge community effort in the ‘Longest Day 2015’ has been dedicated to the Jack and Jill Foundation and the Clifford family, Ted and Fiona and two of their children Conor and Chloe led the cyclists up through the town this evening and over an imaginary but magic finishing line outside Tom McCarthy’s Bar.
There were emotional scenes and tears as the Cliffords, who know well what the care and friendship of the Jack and Jill Foundation means to a family, made their way through the town with the backing of a community of 157 cyclists, climbers and fundraisers.
There was immense relief too that it all went so well with only the expected blister and aching limbs to report or grumble about this evening.
The stories and pictures of the day will, no doubt be coming out gradually over the coming weeks. In the meantime have a look at some of the pics here from opposite ends of the amazing day.
In doing so, do spare a thought for the people who organised and cycled and climbed today. Then maybe try to understand how justifiably elated they must feel this evening having been involved in an act of such outstanding altruism.
About the Jack and Jill Foundation
The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation provides direct funding, to families of children up to the age of four with brain damage and who suffer severe intellectual and physical developmental delay, enabling them to purchase home respite care.
The Foundation also provides end of life care. These are children who as a result of their condition require intensive home nursing care.
The Foundation gives these families the ‘Gift of Time’ – time to do the things that are so often taken for granted like: shopping, taking their other children to the park, a night’s sleep etc.
Jack and Jill needs to raise over €3 million per year to provide these services.
Less than 19% of our budget comes from the Government so we rely on innovative fundraising campaigns to reach our target.
Please help us to help our families by making a donation or by holding a fundraising event on our behalf. For more on the Jack and Jill Foundation you can click here: http://www.mycharity.ie/charity/jackandjill/
An Riocht AC colleagues, Gina Fagan and Pa Murphy thinking of joining the after party at the end of the second annual Longest Day Cycle/Climb/Cycle Challenge in Castleisland on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Home are the Heroes: The first bunch of cyclists alight to a great welcome after their 11-hour challenge in the second annual Longest Day Cycle/Climb/Cycle Challenge on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Generational Celebrations: Pa Walsh and his son, Paudie toasting a great day’s work after the second annual Longest Day Cycle/Climb/Cycle Challenge in Castleisland on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Little Jack Carmody is blissfully unaware that mom, Pam climbed the highest mountain in Ireland earlier today as they are pictured with grand-dad, John Scollard after the second annual Longest Day Cycle/Climb/Cycle Challenge in Castleisland on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Tears and emotions and a heroes welcome awaited the Clifford family, Ted and Fiona who were joined by their children Conor and Chloe on the final couple of hundred yards of the second annual Longest Day Cycle/Climb/Cycle Challenge in Castleisland on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy
The calm before ..: Jerry Courtney pictured with: Jack Curran and his mom, Breda and granny, Mary McCarthy in a break from preparations for the home-coming after the second annual Longest Day Cycle/Climb/Cycle Challenge in Castleisland on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy
The Morans: Emily, Norma, Molly and Kevin in jubilant form after playing their parts in the second annual Longest Day Cycle/Climb/Cycle Challenge in Castleisland on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Ted and Fiona Clifford who have personal experience of the care and expertise of the Jack and Jill Foundation pictured with their children: Chloe, Bella and Conor after the second annual Longest Day Cycle/Climb/Cycle Challenge in Castleisland on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy
A Day to Remember: Longest Day participants’ supporters of all ages gathering for the welcome home party as they await the return of their heroes this evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy
