WHILE MOST people will be putting their feet up and taking it easy over the bank holiday weekend, some brave souls are taking part in a four-day trek across the country over the coming days to raise money for the homeless.
The Grand Canal Way Challenge is a 130km (80-mile) walk that began at Shannon Harbour in Co Offaly yesterday and ends at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin late on Monday.
The challenge, which has been organised by the Peter McVerry Trust, is hoping to raise a minimum of €20,000 to help homeless people.
At least 20 participants are taking place in the four-day walk with others welcome to join the group during the final stretch of the walk from Sallins in Co Kildare to Dublin.
Participants, who have each raised a minimum of €700 in order to take part in the challenge, will be walking approximately 32km (20 miles) each day.
They began by trekking from Shannon Harbour to Tullamore yesterday and are expected to walk on to Edenderry today before proceeding on to Sallins and then onwards to the capital.
Fr McVerry said that events such as the challenge were essential in helping to raise much-needed funds for the homeless.
“This is the first time we’ve held this particular challenge and we are hopeful it will become a regular event, in much the same way as our Wexford Cycle is,” he said.
“In the present climate we’re having to do more events just to keep funds coming in because there’s such an increased demand for our services.
“Over the past four years the amount of State funding we receive has fallen by about 25 per cent and so we are now more and more dependent on fundraising events such as the Grand Canal Way Challenge in order to help people move out of homelessness.”
While excited by the event, Fr McVerry admitted that, sadly, he was now too old to take part in it.
The Grand Canal was designed to connect Dublin, through the midlands, with the river Shannon. Although construction work began in 1757, the waterway was not completed as far as the Shannon until 1804.
Constructed in bogland along a good proportion of its length, the project took far longer than originally anticipated. It is considered one of Ireland’s greatest engineering achievements.
The canal closed to commercial traffic in 1951, but in recent decades has been restored and is used primarily now by pleasure craft. The old towpath has also become a popular trail for walkers and cyclists.
The Main Line stretches for 130km from Dublin to Shannon Harbour with 43 locks. The Barrow Line runs south from the summit level at Lowtown, Co Kildare, to join the river Barrow in Athy, a distance of 45km (28 miles)with nine locks. The Naas branch is navigable to Naas Harbour, a distance of 4km (2½ miles) with five locks.
For more information on the Grand Canal Way Challenge, contact the Peter McVerry Trust on 01-8230776 or by email at fundraising@pmvtrust.ie
Going out something for the weekend
RIVERFEST
The Great Limerick Run is the highlight of the annual Riverfest, which takes place throughout the city this weekend. More than 8,000 people are expected to take part in the run, which consists of three fully certified races: a marathon, a half-marathon and a six-mile race that all commence over a staggered start schedule.
The run begins at the Peoples Park and ends on O’Connell Street tomorrow. Delays can be expected around the city.
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KILKENNY RHYTHM AND ROOTS FESTIVAL
Now in its 15th year, the Kilkenny Rhythm and Roots Festival has wooed some class acts to the country since its inception in 1998. This year is no different with the highly rated Alabama Shakes (above) heading a list of 30 acts from the US, Canada, the UK and Sweden. A number of home-grown acts are also on the bill. kilkennyroots.com
MARITIME MATTERS FESTIVAL
The annual Maritime Matters Festival kicks off at Hook Lighthouse, Co Wexford today with highlights including displays from the Irish Coast Guard, Irish Water Safety and the Irish Seal Sanctuary, as well as a crafts market and a competition to find Ireland’s strongest man.
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CATHEDRAL QUARTER ARTS FESTIVAL
Belfast opens its arms up to some great entertainment this weekend with the 13th Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival offering comedy, music, theatre and family events. Among the acts scheduled to play in the coming days are Death In Vegas, Yacht and Field Music.
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ALL-IRELAND DRAMA FESTIVAL
The 60th RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival opened at the Dean Crowe Theatre, Athlone, on Thursday and continues until Saturday, May 12th. The festival sees the top nine amateur drama groups in the country compete for the all-Ireland title and the prestigious Festival Perpetual Trophy, as well as for several major acting and technical awards.
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Weekend Weather
It has been a less than inspiring start to the summer so far and things do not look as though they are going to get a whole lot better over the bank holiday weekend.
This morning is expected to start off dry with plenty of sunshine in most areas. Met Éireann predicts temperatures will be between 9 and 12 degrees. However, evening will be cooler, with temperatures plunging to close to freezing.
Daytime temperatures tomorrow will reach between 10 and 13 degrees. Rain will spread from the southwest, with strong easterly winds.
Monday will start off breezy and wet, with occasional rain in all areas. Maximum temperatures will be between 8 and 12 degrees.
