‘A Cross to Bear – Or Three’


​BER ratings, the merits of ‘Hello Fresh’, roof tents, injuries, Caminos, cycling becoming the new hiking, the Fleadh, cat-sitting, Meetups, shortcuts, osteopaths in the North-East, good coffee beans, supplements - chats that ranged from Gaza to Greystones, McDonald’s to O’Donnell’s..

It was only when a brief but fatigued discussion ensued over whether to use ‘bare’ or ‘bear’ in the title of this article that it was clearly the last day of the Fei Sheehy Challenge and the imminent end of every random conversation had over the three days. We were scraping the barrel, both mentally and physically…

Year twelve of the annual Fei Sheehy Challenge came and went with calm, thorough planning and the usual commitment to making things work by all. This followed a year of preparation by the Na Sleibhte committee and the minimum of drama by the hardy participants taking part. Routes are well known by now and in fact, it’s becoming very clear who knows the best shortcuts around the three ranges of the Comeraghs, Galtees and the Knockmealdowns. Something that can make all the difference.

Day 1: Day one started at the forest road leading to the Mauma Road car park after registration in Hillview Sports club, Clonmel. The first group photograph was taken and the gang headed off, enthusiastic and ready to take on the day. The weather was overcast but calm, cloud just touching the first summit around 600m. Blue skies and a fresh breeze swept that early cloud away by the Knockaniffrin ridge, always a good spot to stop for a picnic and enjoy the views. The long walk towards and around the Punchbowl brought us to the beautiful views of Clonmel, the Suir Valley and Slievenamon from the shrine. Day one a success.

Day 2: ‘On the Road again’ – Reminded of the Willie Nelson song, day two started in Paudi Gallahue’s field in Anglesborough, all proceedings taking place from the boot of Derek Lyon’s car. The weather remained good, except for some wind and a small skiff of rain on the top of Galtee Mor. The lovely refreshments back in the field are a highlight of the day – sitting on a camp chair nattering away, wolfing coffee cake into you washed down with a mug of hot tea. Hard to beat! Thanks, as always, to the ladies who kindly offer to do this for us.

Day 3: ‘As my Mama told me, there’ll be days like this’. The Knockmealdowns on Day three reminded those with any bit of energy left of why this is a challenge like no other. That energy soon evaporated as the three days took their toll. The conversations started drying up, unlike our clothes which were soaked through in less than an hour. It was a day to just get ticked off. But once again, the promise of sandwiches, treats and hot drinks back in the hall in Ballyporeen
made it all worthwhile.

________________________________

Another resounding success marked the end of the 2025 event as those heading off gathered in the hall one last time before departing to the four corners of the country. ‘I’ll definitely be coming down the stairs on my bottom for work in the morning’ overheard at one point. 

It is difficult to sum up the sense of achievement, contentment and satisfaction in that hall after taking part in one, two or three big days on those hills. It is even more difficult to define a unique, incomparable atmosphere where kindred spirits gather to listen to presentations in honour of a little girl, Fei, so warmly spoken of over the weekend. Love can truly move mountains. For all the thinking and ruminating I do over the three days hiking on those mountains, I’ve yet to find the words to define that.

With much fanfare and applause, and in the narrowest of margins, it gave the committee great pleasure to award the Peaks Mountaineering Club the Club Trophy stealing the five in a row off the Galtee Walking Club. They worked so hard over the years, rallying the troops and this year their efforts paid off in earnest. There was quite literally a hare’s breath between them and the Ballyhoura Bears so great excitement (and relief) when their award was announced.

The second award, the Epic Effort Award, was up for contention next. A definition of ‘epic’ can mean different things to different people. For one person, it may be helping an injured hiker off the mountain, for another it might mean adding in two extra peaks. Discussion ensued over a kind gentleman who offered someone a litre of water after a mishap with their own supply, ensuring they could actually take part that day. Perhaps it wasn’t going to be given out at all this year, no feat standing out above any other. After very little discussion, it was agreed that the award should be given to a stalwart of the event, a person who represents all that is good in people, having the biggest and gentlest heart. This was Na Sleibhte and Peaks member Josephine O’ Brien. Josie works tirelessly every year encouraging her club members (and others) around the hills with unrelenting enthusiasm, upbeat spirit and energy. Speaking of helping out a few strays, she is also someone who has every feral cat in Cahir fed by 5.30am on a work morning. As I said previously, she is a lady with the kindest heart and a truly well-deserved winner.

And with that, as another year draws to a close, I wish to acknowledge all those who contributed in any way to the success of the event. I wish to highlight the efforts put in by the Na Sleibhte committee members of 2025. They worked tirelessly behind the scenes all year planning and organising the event – ordering and collection of merchandise/ certificates/ food/ awards, handling club finances/ accounts, form-filling, data collection, answering emails from participants, hosting online Teams meetings or simply not walking on one of the days so they could help out with registration. Those involved included Seán Doherty, Jennifer Kelly, Derek
Lyons, Fiona O’ Neill, Ulla O’ Riordan, Gerard Sheehy and Mark Vesey. Special thanks to club member Seanie Lonergan who volunteered to pick up an injured hiker off the mountain on Saturday. It all added to the success of the weekend.

We also thank the volunteers outside the club who do a huge amount behind the scenes – the sponsors, those who provide the venues, the ladies who prepare scones and cakes after the hikes and the generosity of those who quietly support the event year in, year out. It is all appreciated so much. 

Roll on 2026 and another year of the challenge and the Na Sleibhte Hillwalking club. We hope to see some new faces at the open hike in the Galtees in October and be sure to keep an eye onthe club’s Facebook page for info, updates, videos and photographs of all events.

Beneficiaries: This year, our chosen charities are The Irish Kidney Association and The Women’s Aid. We also continue our annual contribution to the Mend the Mountain fund. 

2025 Raffle Winners: We had a raffle for 2025 participants and the results were as follows:

Free entry to FSC 2025 – Paul O’Brien
Landers Tralee €50 Voucher – Jack Hayes
Portwest €50 Voucher – Tom Ryan

Event Statistics: 52 people participated over the three days. 16 did one day, 8 did two days and 28 did all three days. 

Clubs and Walking Groups Represented: Ballyhoura Bears, Galtee Walking Club, Limerick Climbing Club, Na Sleibhte Hillwalking Club, Peaks Mountaineering Club, Trailblazers Hiking Group, Wayfarers Hiking Club, Trailblazers, Ireland Fermoy, Nenagh Walking Club, The Mountain Blazers.

2025 Participants: Aisling Mullins, Alan O Brien, Ann Marie O'Byrne, Anna Leveque, Annette Kavanagh, Anthony Fitzgerald, Catherine Horgan, Catherine O’Brien, Catriona O Riordan, Conor McCarthy, Conor Molloy, Darragh O Meara, Diarmaid McIntyre, Eileen Cahalan, Gerard Barrett, Gina Mcloughlin. Graham O’Reily, Irene Lawless, James Dunne, Joan Neill, John Fitzgerald, John Nyhan, John Staunton, Josephine O’Brien, Karol Caulfield, Keith Curley, Ken Warne, Kevin Bowen, Kilian D’Arcy, Martin Murphy, Maria DeCharmant, Marie Carey, Mary O'Looney, Mary O’Connell, Michael FitzGerald, Niamh O'Reilly, Noreen Mahony, Johnny O'Connell, Padraig Hackett, PatrickConelly, Paul O Brien, Robert Martin, Roger Seaward, Rowan Walsh, Sean Doherty, Sylvia Cooke , Timothy O'Mahoney, John O';Mara, Tom Ryan, Tommy O’Brien, Ulla O’Riordan, William Cooke.

Author: Fei Sheehy Challenge – Karol Caulfield, Committee member 2025

The event generated €6,815 from donations and registration fees. 

After deducting costs we had €4,557 for distribution. 

€2,278 will be retained for the Mend The Mountain Fund and added to the cumulative €17,385. So, €19,663 will be carried forward.

€1,139 will go to Marymount 

€1,139 will go to Pieta 

Since we started on this journey we've raised €67,269 for charities, voluntary organisations as well as the recent retentions for future work. 

We do this for others. That's the ethos of the event. Hillwalking For Good.  

Thanks again to everyone who was involved, in any way, with the event.

                     ‘Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
                      I took the one less traveled by,
                      And that has made all the difference’.
                     
                     Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken

While two roads may diverge in a wood, the one that makes the difference is that one that will take you the shortest way through that day’s crossing, be it the Comeraghs, Galtees or Knockmealdowns ranges. And that is a main feature of The Fei Sheehy Challenge.

The lead up to the 2024 event came and went in its usual low-key fashion. Preparation within the event was once again undertaken by the Na Sleibhte Hillwalking Club. Duties were dispersed, details finalised, emails sent, boxes ticked. Preparation outside the event was as thorough as that of many Irish Olympian training for Paris - fitness/ hydration/ nutrition/navigation finalised, boxes ticked. 

For the locals taking part in the challenge, these mountain ranges are as familiar as an M50 exit is to those living in the Capital. They discuss spot heights, coums and trig pillars as easily as a priest reads mass. Years of hiking with their local club brings them a wealth of experience. However, three challenge hiking days in a row balances the scales for all. And that is what brings hikers from all over Ireland to Tipperary for The Fei Sheehy Challenge every year.

The weather for the first two days was exceptionally good. Indeed many starting out on morning two had the war wounds of one caught out the day before without sunscreen – a right oul scalding. What an unexpected treat it was to meet William in his car at Moanyarha with water and snacks to get everyone home the last 10km on day one. Many thanks for his kindness.

The good weather also provided the perfect backdrop for the refreshments and home baked goods provided by the ladies on day two in Paudi's field in Anglesborough. Only those familiar with feeding hungry farm workers during the harvest and silage season know the beauty of throwing the remains of your tea out onto a field of grass or corn. (The tea tastes better too). Many thanks to these ladies for their hospitality and friendly chats. It helped erase the pain of the Temple Hill ascent.

Day three on the Knockmealdowns reminded us of why we as Irish hikers lift the wet gear from the bag, bemoan its weight and bulk, yet begrudgingly stuff it back in again, ‘just in case’. The ‘just in case’ happened on Sunday. The cloud stayed low, the wind high and many in shorts and t-shirts were caught out – a right oul perishing. The ground underfoot was 'soft to heavy' on all three days.

For those walkers new to the event, regardless of whether they did one day or three, the sense of achievement is second to none. For regular walkers, it is a chance to meet up with friends and fellow hikers who frequent the challenge hike circuit. Looking back at old blog photos, it is incredible to see the familiar faces who have supported this worthy cause for so many years.

What is not lost on anyone, new or old, is the ethos of this event; why we are here and the importance of looking out for one another. Which is why it was very easy to award the Epic Effort award to the three members of the Fermoy scouts group – John, Conor and Tom, who not only took on this personal challenge themselves but also helped a fellow walker in difficulty on day one. This is what stands out and this is why we do what we do.

Galtee Walking Club won the club title for the 4th year in a row. A superb achievement for a fantastic club. Well done to all. They always provide fun, comraderie and friendly competition to the event. Now who is to steal their 5 in a row next year?!

We continue to retain half the funds raised, after the deduction of some overheads, for our Mend The Mountain Fund and the balance is split between the two nominated charities. For 2024 those are : Pieta House and Marymount University Hospital and Hospice. The Statement of Affairs will be published once all event costs have been settled. Thanks to everyone who contributed.

While the Olympics were finishing up in Paris and the closing ceremony was taking place Sunday evening, most participants were back home, hanging up the wet gear, drying the boots and wondering what their next hike would be. (Many may also have been vowing never to hike again, considering taking up chess, set dancing or crochet instead)

Either way, perhaps it should be the introductory challenge walk which the Na Sleibhte hillwalking group will be hosting in the Galtees on October 12 th , open to all self navigators. Check out the Facebook page for more details. You know you want to. P.S. Insider information. It doesn’t involve Temple Hill.

There's a huge 'meitheal' effort on this event, from people outside the club who : create and sponsor the the certificates, engrave the award, volunteers from venues, drivers on collection stand-by etc. etc. - it would be a very long list to mention everbody. But, we do remember your contribution and we want you to know that we appreciate it. 

2024 Participants:

Tony Baines, Gerard Barrett, Catherine Barry, Jim Barry, Eric Barry, Pat Boland, Kevin Bowen, Yvonne Boyd, Daniel Brennan, Karol Caufield, Eric Chua, Keith Curley, Kilian D’Arcy, Maria DeCharmant, Hilary Dilworth, Seán Doherty, John Fitzgerald, James Hanly, Catherine Horgan, Annette Kavanagh, Irene Lawless, Eoin Lonergan, John Lonergan, Joseph Lonergan, Martina Lonergan, Seán Lonergan, Derek Lyons, Noreen Mahony, Jason McAndrew, Conor McCarthy, Diarmaid McIntyre, Michael Moloney, John Murphy, Vadim Nikoforov, John Nyhan, Bríd O’Brien, Catherine O’Brien, Declan O’Brien, Josephine O';Brien, Tommy O'Brien, Nuala O’Connell, Fiona O’Leary, Mary O’Looney, Tom O’Mara, Niamh O’Reilly, Ulla O’Riordan, Jury Orup, Aileen Power, Tom Ryan, Roger Seaward, Gerard Sheehy, John Staunton, Mark Vesey, Rowan Walsh, Kenneth Warne.

Event statistics

56 participated over the 3 days.

31 did 3 days, 17 did 2 days and 8 did 1 day.


Clubs and walking groups represented

Ballyhoura Bears, Galtee Walking Club,  Limerick Climbing Club, Na Sléibhte Hillwalking Club, Peaks Mountaineering Club, Trailblazers Hiking Group, Scouting Ireland Fermoy, Wayfarers Hiking Club 
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Fei Sheehy Challenge, 2024 – Karol Caulfield

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The Fei Sheehy Challenge is firmly established in the Irish hillwalking calendar, with a sell-out and record number of participants. The challenge, a 3-day affair involving crossings of the Comeraghs, Galtees and Knockmealdowns in consecutive days from 11-13 August, hosts the All-Ireland Hillwalking Club Championships.

Funds raised via entry fees and donations will be given to the two nominated charities this year:
Samaritans Ireland and Marfan Syndrome Support Ireland. The Statement of Accounts will be published once all event costs have been settled. Thanks to everyone who contributed.

Galtee Walking Club won the club title for the 3rd year in a row, which was warmly welcomed by all participants at the prize giving in Ballyporeen. Mary O’Connell (Ballyhoura Bears) was the popular winner of the Epic Effort Award, who helped an unwell walker off the mountain and then went back out on the mountain to complete her walk.

Josephine O’Brien (Peaks Mountaineering Club) won the Outstanding Achievement Award. Josie is a loyal supporter of the Fei Sheehy Challenge, completing 29 of the 30 days walks since we started 10 years ago. The founder of the event, Ger Sheehy, was also recognised for his efforts to promote challenge hillwalking. What a lovely way to keep Fei Sheehy in our heart and minds.

Every hillwalker who took part has memories to last a long time. For some newcomers to the event, it’s stepping into the unknown of facing steep climbs and long mountain walks for 3 days, when muscles can ache and your backpack gradually feels heavier. For the many familiar faces who return year after year, it’s a chance to catch up with friends on the 4-9 hours spent moving each day.

The weather was favourable this August – good temperatures and although very humid and muggy, a welcome change from the intense heat of summer 2022. Underfoot conditions were wetter, especially on the Comeraghs and the Galtees, after July’s steady rainfall.

This event was organised by the members of Na Sléibhte Hillwalking Club, with the support and cooperation of local landowners, bus transport, catering and sports clubs, in Clonmel, Anglesborough and Ballyporeen. Thanks to Kinetica for refuelling participants.

If you’d like to try an introductory challenge walk yourself, Na Sléibhte will be hosting their annual guest walk, for self-navigators, in the Galtees on 14th October. Check their social media for details.

Participants
Participants came from all corners of Ireland – the local counties of Munster were well represented, with regulars also making the trip from Antrim, Down, Dublin, Wexford and beyond.

Barrett, Gerard    / Barrett, Niamh      / Barry, Catherine    / Barry, Eric   / Boland, Patrick       / Bowen, Kevin   / Carroll, Lisa   / Caufield, Karol /      Cooney, Fintan /     Curley, Keith    / Denny, Bernard      / Doherty, Sean    /Ecock, Mark    / Freeman, Sean     / Geary, John     / Gleeson, Emily      / Hegarty, Fiona / Horgan, Catherine      / Kelly, Jenny     / Lawless, Irene   / Lonergan Martina      / Lonergan, John      / Lonergan, Sean    / Mahony, Noreen   / McAndrew, Jason      / McCarthy, James     / McVeigh, Gerry    / Moloney, Michael        / Neill, Joan    / Nicholson, Darren  / Nikoforov, Vadim    / O'Brien Alan   / O'Brien Josephine     / O'Brien Thomas    / O'Brien, Brid   / O'Brien, Catherine      / O'Brien, Declan     / O'Brien, Joe    / O'Brien, Tommy     / O'Connell, Mary           / O'Leary Fiona     / O'Connell, Nuala     / O'Reilly, Graham      / Orup, Jury        / Owens, Andy /     Power, Aileen   / Power, David / Ryan, Tom     / Staunton, John      / Vaughan, Ryan     / Vesey, Mark    / Walsh, Caroline        / Walsh, Philip / Whelan, Mark

Event statistics
54 participants from 90 registered.
33 did 3 days (a record) – 11 did 2 days and 9 did 1 day.
Over 90 kilometres covered – that’s over 3,600km walked by everyone, more than the entire coastline of Ireland.

Clubs and walking groups represented
Galtee Walking Club won the All-Ireland Hillwalking Championships and also had the largest turn-out. Also represented were Ballyhoura Bears, Na Sléibhte Hillwalking Club, Peaks Mountaineering Club, Trailblazers Hiking Group, Clonakilty Hillwalking Club, Bears, Limerick Climbing Club, Bishopstown Hillwalking Club, Wayfarers Hiking Club and Blackrock Hillwalking Club.

Photo credits: Karol Caulfield, David Power, Vadim Nikoforov

The event generated €6,242 from donations and registration fees. 

After duducting costs we had €4,692 for distribution. 

€2,346 will be retained for the Mend The Mountain Fund and added to the cumulative €12,856. So, €15,202 will be carried forward.

We remember Melissa Doherty by donating :

€1,173 will go to St. Francis Hospice Dublin & 

€1,173 will go to Dogs Trust

Since we started on this journey we've raised €58,247 for charities, voluntary organisations as well as the recent retentions for future work. 

We do this for others. That's the ethos of the event. Hillwalking For Good.  

Thanks again to everyone who was involved, in any way, with the event.

​Go raibh míle maith agat gach duine.....

This was like nothing that had gone before.

The intensity of the heat added another 30%/40% to the difficulty of each walk, each day. This was ultra 'senior hurling' and yet everyone made their way safely off the mountains each day.

Without exception, everyone walked phenomenally, understood what was required and carried it off in style. It was a masterclass in challenge hillwalking and we hope that when all the walkers go back to their respective clubs/groups that they will share the information on their achievements.

The absolute certaint take-away from the weekend is that the participants are the hillwalkers that are going to develop the activity, by inspiring others through their passion and knowledge.    

These participants aren't 'just hillwalkers', they're athletes that have a professional approach to their activity  - from fitness/endurance, to hydration , to nutrition, to navigation, they tick all the boxes. 

We continue to get a tremendous amount of goodwill from within and beyond the hillwalking community and we greatly appreciate that. Thanks to everyone who donated. We'll do a separate 'Statement of Affairs' post on the financials when the bills have been paid and a line has been drawn under the 2022 event.   

Congratulations to Galtee Walking Club on being crowned All-Ireland Hillwalking Club Champions again in 2022. Is the treble on? 

Well done to Tommy O'Brien on his Epic Effort Award - 2022. It was a very difficult decision to make this year as there were so many exceptional performances. Given the conditions, the same award could have been given to anyoine who went out. We were just in awe of the class on show.      

This was the first year of the event being run under the Na Sléibhte Hillwalking Club banner and we look forward to many more years with the input, energy and volunteerism on that basis.
​    
Participants

Eric Barry, Stas Bernarsinski, Patrick Boland, Karol Caulfield, Anne Coffey, Fintan Cooney, Eric Crowe, Killian D’Arcy, Patrick Dennis, Seán Doherty, Aoife Fitzgerald, Ian Fitzgerald, Sean Freeman, John Geary, Padraig Hackett, Catherine Horgan, Derek Kearney, Ian Kelleher, Jenny Kelly, Seán Lonergan, Jason McAndrew, Gerry McVeigh, Joan Neill, Darren Nicholson, Alan O’Brien, Bríd O’Brien, Josephine O’Brien, Mary O'Brien, Paul O'Brien, Thomas O'Brien, Tommy O'Brien, Mary O’Connell, Mary O'Looney, Graham O'Reilly, Andy Owens, David Power, Michelle Rooney, Noel Ryall, Mark Vesey, Marian Wallis, Cormack Walsh, Justin Walsh, Rowan Walsh.

Thanks to Nuala, Kate & Miriam for helping out, Mary Sheehy for the sponge cakes, Kinetica for the Protein Bars, and Bill and Padraig for offering to help if someone needed to come off. 

Thanks to the land owners and those that allowed us to use their facilities.

Event Statistics

75 Registered

44 Participated

19 did 3 days  
12 did 2 days
13 did 1 day.

8 Participants were new to the event.

Clubs and Walking Groups Represented:

Ballyhoura Bears, Bishopstown Hillwalking Club, Galtee Walking Club, Limerick Climbing Club, Mid-Tipp Hillwalkers, Na Sléibhte Hillwalking Club, Peaks Mountaineering Club, Trailblazers Hiking Group.


Well done Josephine O'Brien on doing 26 days, of the 27, over the last nine years.      
Photo Credits : Derek K, Cormac & Karol. 

The event generated €6,267 from donations and registration fees. 

After duducting costs for insurance, website, caps etc. we had €5,431 for distribution. 

Registration fees amounted to just over €5,000 so we were able to to pay for the overheads from separate donations 

€2,715.50 will be retained for the Mend The Mountain Fund and added to the cumulative €10,140. So, €12,856 carried forward.

€2,715.50 will go to Native Woodland Trust

Since we started on this journey we've raised €53,555 for charities, voluntary organisations as well as the recent retentions for future work. 

It's a wonderful thing that you all do and you're truly a fantastic group of individuals to walk with, talk to and engage with, year-in year-out.   

Thanks again to everyone who was involved, in any way, with the event.

​Go raibh míle maith agat mo chairde.....