Nearly there: Jackie Linnane, Tralee (left) and Liz Nicholson, Kilflynn take time out for a photograph during HercOileán – The Island Warrior Challenge at An Riocht AC in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Boys being boys: Castleisland lads enjoying the fun and games at HercOileán – The Island Warrior Challenge at An Riocht AC in Castleisland on Saturday morning. Included are, from left: Mark Hickey, Matthew Horgan, Conor Walsh, Eamonn O’Connor and Luke Regan. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Suzie Dixon from Ardfert making her way through the river stage of HercOileán – The Island Warrior Challenge at An Riocht AC in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Paddy Lane and Maggie Large of Herbalife at their stand at the expo in conjunction with Saturday’s HercOileán – The Island Warrior Challenge at An Riocht AC in Castleisland. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Local youth, Donnchadha Callaghan working his way through HercOileán – The Island Warrior Challenge at An Riocht AC in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Tralee trio: Thecla Heaslip (left) Monika Curtin and Caroline Reidy heading for the start of HercOileán – The Island Warrior Challenge at An Riocht AC in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
The Geaney sisters, Sandra and Aisling pose for a quick picture before heading off to join their wave at the start of HercOileán – The Island Warrior Challenge at An Riocht AC in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Dana Lunáková at her Castleisland Physiotherapy Clinic stand at HercOileán – The Island Warrior Challenge at An Riocht AC in Castleisland on Saturday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Martin Lowe, Tralee was the first to appear from ‘the country stretch’ on the initial wave of participants in the HercOileán – The Island Warrior Challenge at An Riocht AC in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
An Riocht AC manager, Kate McSweeney (centre) with staff members: Cathleen Reidy (left) and Bernadette Fitzgerald making final preparations for HercOileán – The Island Warrior Challenge at An Riocht AC in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Sandra Geaney, Tralee (left) pictured with Caroline Corridan, Ballyheigue and Marguerite Moynihan, Tralee ready to take on HercOileán – The Island Warrior Challenge at An Riocht AC in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Oh my heart: Mary Lenihan gets a fright but has Ailiís Brosnan in support as they reach the river stage of HercOileán – The Island Warrior Challenge at An Riocht AC in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Team-work at play in preparation for HercOileán – The Island Warrior Challenge at An Riocht AC in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
David O’Connor from Camp wading his way through HercOileán – The Island Warrior Challenge at An Riocht
Avril Hewitt, Tralee getting that Warrior look from events entertainer, Darragh Lenihan at HercOileán – The Island Warrior Challenge at An Riocht AC in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Mike Moriarty, Tralee delighted to have reached the cool, clear water stage of the testing HercOileán – The Island Warrior Challenge at An Riocht AC in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Patricia Hickey-O’Connor pictured at her Clinical Reflexology Therapist stand at the expo in conjunction with HercOileán – The Island Warrior Challenge at An Riocht AC in Castleisland on Saturday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
The Mad Ones Clothing Company founder members, Lisa Kerin-Horgan (left) and Tara Walmsley pictured at their stand at the expo in conjunction with Saturday’s HercOileán – The Island Warrior Challenge at An Riocht AC in Castleisland. ©Photograph: John Reidy
HercOileán – The Island Warrior Challenge 2015 has come and gone and the inevitable post mortem can now take place.
Saturday’s event, a collaboration between An Riocht AC and Castleisland Rugby Club, was the second outing of the innovative Island Warrior Challenge. Though well inland in calendar terms from last year’s October 11th date – it put down another sound ambassadorial marker and made a strong case for its retention in 2016 and beyond.
While coming up against a whole raft of counter attractions over the weekend, the event has made a great impression on those who have participated the two to date.
There is the fun element of it all and that seems to be heightened by involving a team of friends in the action. There is a distinct advantage in the team mentality as the obstacles were quite testing and a helping hand was often the difference between frustration and fun.
As with all fledgling events and festivals, the drawing board is a constant piece of office furniture and will, no doubt, be in use for HercOileán and its future.
It has made a great impression of the participants in its two outings to date and it certainly has been a spectators’ dream of an event. The fact that it has drawn a major sponsor – in the league of the EBS in only its second year – speaks volumes for its viability as an attractive, sporting event in the annual calendar here. The only thing left to consider really is its pitch on that calendar.
I was Down the Banks – as we refer to being by the river – yesterday and a man said in passing: “Isn’t that a great bit of fun and that’s something that’s sadly lacking in life today. And fair play to the people who are willing put themselves through this in front of their friends and neighbours – and here we are lapping it all up.”
That and the army of volunteers and the team spirit and the united sense of purpose makes it all worth while.
It’s unlikely that anyone will bother to say that to the organisers though. So they can take it as an oblique compliment and carry on regardless.
