Tom Crean Challenge 2023 proceeds presented to vital charities

2024 Dingle Peninsula event taking place on August 30/31

ALL the pain and endurance was worth it, several times over!

Some of the county’s most important charities were delighted this week to receive the proceeds of the 2023 Tom Crean Dingle Peninsula Challenge at a special presentation from the organisers held at the Rose Hotel on Monday evening.

The 24-hour challenge saw participants walking, kayaking, running, cycling, climbing and swimming their way through the rugged and majestic peninsula.

In the last four years alone, the now-annual event has raised a staggering €150,000 for a variety of charities. And this year was no exception, with the county generously backing the participants to help raise funds for the Kerry Cancer Support Group, Down Syndrome Kerry, the Irish Red Cross and other deserving causes.

The organising team behind the great event – comprising of Kieran O’Callaghan, Patrick O’Sullivan, and Daniel Bohan – hosted a special ‘thank you’ evening in The Rose Hotel Tralee on Monday evening for last year’s participating teams and chosen charities.

Enda O’Brien and Maurice Horan represented Down Syndrome Kerrym with Breda Dyland and Trish Kelly there to represent Kerry Cancer Support Group. Both charities received cheques and made speeches on the impact funds such as these have on their organisations.

The organisers expressed their heartfelt gratitude to all the supporters who have contributed and supported the event over the last number of years, and announced plans for this year’s challenge.

This year, the 2024 challenge will take place on August 30 and 31, with a variation on the previous year’s route incorporating a start and finish point in Tralee.

With seven teams – The Ugly Mug, Uniquely, Xintec, Rise Coaching Method, The Bookshelf, Cyber Safe Kids and Daniel Bohan Wealth Managment – already signed up organisers anticipate this event being the largest one to date.

The event will commence in Blennerville, Tralee by walking the incredible Dingle Way to Inch. From there, participants will cycle to Páidí Ó Sé’s Bar in Ventry, jog from Ventry via Criach to Tig Áine’s Cafe, cycle to Glens North Walking Trail, hike Mount Brandon with a pit stop dip in Pater Noster Lake, descend to Faha graveyard, cycle to Derrymore, kayak to Fenit and finish by cycling the Greenway back to Tralee.

It’s a gruelling yet rewarding journey that will cover a total distance of 100 miles of the most scenic territory the country has to offer.