Five-year-old Conan’s 130km ride for charity

This is five-year-old Conan Woulfe who cycled an incredible 130km along the banks of the Royal Canal to raise funds for st Vincent de Paul.

The young Dubliner pedalled from Cloondara, Co. Longford, to Maynooth, Co. Kildare, raising over €1,600 for the charity.

‘i wanted to raise money for families who don’t have enough,’ Conan told the irish Mail on sunday. ‘Cycling is a good thing to do because it’s a good way to get around without making the planet sick.’

Conan, who goes to Bunscoil synge street in Portobello, was joined on his adventure by his father, his grandfather, his cousin and his little brother Alby, who hitched a ride with Dad.

‘it took three days with a rest day in the middle,’ he explained. ‘On the first day i cycled 65,000 metres.’

The Royal Canal begins on the northside of Dublin and runs all the way to Co. Longford, where it joins the River shannon.

The stretch Conan travelled has recently been relaunched as the Royal Canal Greenway – a safe path for cyclists and walkers that passes through four counties.

Waterways ireland describes the greenway as combining ‘rustic and industrial landscapes with rolling fields, pretty waterside villages, working locks and historic landmarks’.

‘it was nice cycling along the canal,’ said Conan. ‘There are no cars so it’s not dangerous. it was easier than i was expecting.

‘i think other children could do the same thing because it’s fun and nice to raise money for charity.’

Donations to st Vincent de Paul in appreciation of the five-yearold’s heroic efforts can still be made at