Martin takes 400km charity walk in his stride
A WEXFORD man has completed a 400km walk along the southern coast of Ireland in aid of Self Help Africa, a country that he feels contributed enormously to his life.
Martin Ryan, who is originally from Enniscorthy but now lives at Creagh Hill, Gorey, finished his trek in Kinsale, county Cork, on Thursday afternoon, which was one of the hottest days during Ireland’s heatwave. He also completed the walk to mark his 70th birthday.
Martin, who began his adventure on Monday, June 18, from Courtown Harbour, has raised more than €10,000 for Self Help Africa. ‘I am absolutely on top of the world, it was an incredible experience and just great to be healthy,’ added Martin.
He retired to his native county following a successful business career which took him all over the African continent. Martin’s reason to embark on his trek was to give something back to a continent that was good to him and his family.
The money raised will support the work of Irish charity Self Help Africa, which works with small farmers in sub-Saharan areas of the continent.
For the walk, Martin completed around 40 km each day. He avoided the main roads and towns and instead passed through smaller villages and communities.
Some of the highlights Martin men- tioned included: learning that age is only a number; the beautiful weather he experienced with no rain in sight for 11days; and the incredible support he has received during his walk.
‘One day, I got really bad shin splints and thought I was going to have to stop,’ said Martin. ‘Miraculously, the pain was gone the next day.’
He said each of the 11-days, someone was by his side and kept him company. ‘I really want to thank Ronan Scully, who walked with me for seven-days,’ added Martin.
For the last 7km, his wife Esther travelled to Cork to walk the last hurdle with her husband,
Martin lived and worked in Africa for more than 35 years and some of his children were born and raised there. Having left Enniscorthy in the early 1970s, Martin worked at different times in rural development, agri-business and mining before setting up All Terrain Services (ATS) which was a successful full-service company providing catering and facilities management at mining sites across the continent.
He also created his own history when he established one of Africa’ first authentic Irish bars in the form of Ryan’s Irish Pub in Accra, capital of Ghana.
It was one of the few places on the continent that sold Guinness stout straight from the company’s brewery in St James’ Gate, Dublin.
Martin, and his business partners, recently sold ATS to the Tsebo Group and the business now operates in over 20 African countries. Alongside its core activities, the company implemented a wide range of rural and agricultural development work initiatives designed to support communities in areas where it has done business.
Martin said he would like to thank everyone who supported him during the 400km stretch.