TWO BROTHERS from Mountcharles, Co Donegal, are rowing from Donegal to Limerick for three weeks in aid of Irish hospices.
The ambitious feat, understood to be the first time that rowers have made their way down the Erne and Shannon waterways in one go, was launched this month from the Lakeside Centre, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal.
The journey is approximately 232 miles, passing through rivers, canals and lakes in 13 counties - Donegal, Fermanagh, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Longford, Roscommon, Galway, Westmeath, Offaly, Clare, Tipperary and Limerick. People will be able to contribute by donating to a bucket collection along the route.
The boat will be rowed by Martin and Mike O'Boyle, who built it with their father Michael, who has built timber boats all his life including the Jeanie Johnston.
The 19ft vessel is made mainly of larch using mainly traditional methods and design. There will be few comforts for the challengers.
The O'Boyle family have always intended that the challenge be used to raise money.
Over the last three months, the brothers have begun intensive training to ensure they will be physically up to the task of rowing continuously for about three weeks. The training has not been easy but Martin O'Boyle says he is ready for the challenge.
"We have been training for a good few months now both on rowing machines and using the boat itself. We have also been watching what we have been eating to ensure full physical fitness over the next few weeks. The last thing we want is for one of us to be injured along the way. A lot of people are depending on the hospice movement and they need all the money they can get and I hope we can help a little by completing this row."
The journey will be filmed by Donegal based film-makers, Headland Productions, with regularly updated video diaries and blogs on www.headland.ie.
People can also send messages of support or comments, which will be conveyed to the rowers, at challenge@headland.ie.
Donations to participating hospice groups can be made directly to a Bank of Ireland bank account, Erne Shannon Challenge. The account number is 87033672, sort code 904835.