Huge charity cycle for Irish Cancer Society to stop in Mayo

Original Irish Hotel’s epic eight-day Wild Atlantic Way charity cycle for Irish Cancer Society will stop throughout Mayo.

Gráinne Seoige launched the Original charity cycle, which will kick-off on Monday, September 30. Original Irish Hotels team members, guests and local suppliers will embark on the cycle starting along the Wild Atlantic Way beginning in Cork and finishing in Donegal. 

Across relay style cycle team members will visit a variety of the beautiful Original Irish Hotels along the spectacular and rugged Wild Atlantic Way route, with participants from each hotel taking part at various stages along the cycle. 

Twenty-four hotels, including Knockranny House Hotel, Westport, Clew Bay Hotel, Westport, Park Hotel Kiltimagh will be visited by participants throughout the cycle. 

The cycle, which is over 800 kilometres, marks the ten-year anniversary of the Wild Atlantic Way, celebrating the impact the route has had on local communities over the last decade with a goal to raise €50,000 for The Irish Cancer Society. 

The teams are made up of hotel proprietors, hotel staff, guests, suppliers, and many local heroes with a combination of experienced and leisure cyclists.

All donations will help the hotel teams make this event an important contributor to the local communities along the Wild Atlantic Way through The Irish Cancer Society. 

Stephen Belton, Chairperson at Original Irish Hotels, said they wanted to make a difference to local communities through the challenge.

“The Irish Cancer Society was the right charity to partner with, as everyone in our community and throughout Ireland has been touched by cancer in some way,” he added.

This year’s cycle was launched by Journalist and TV presenter Gráinne Seoige, who said she was ‘delighted’ to support the ‘great cycle’. 

She continued: “As a proud Galway woman, I want to wish a happy birthday to the Wild Atlantic Way. I also want to commend the hoteliers and their teams for this initiative. I know how important these individual hotels are to their local communities, and they deserve support to reach their fundraising goal. To all participants, let me say, go n-éirí an t-ádh leat!”

Original Irish Hotels will support The Irish Cancer Society through the challenge. 

These hotels are at the heart of their communities and The Irish Cancer Society provides invaluable services to their communities, including support for patients, funding cancer research projects and providing care to many all-around Ireland.

Original Irish Hotels offer a collection of distinctive, owner-operated hotels situated in Ireland's most stunning locations, with 50 properties spread across all of Ireland in beautiful locations such as the Wild Atlantic Way.

Donations for the cycle can be made up until Monday, October 7 through iDonate.

Every contribution will help Original Irish Hotels to reach their goal of a €50,000 donation to The Irish Cancer Society. 

See below the full cycle route: 

Start – Casey’s of Baltimore

DAY 1–Monday, 30th September

Casey's of Baltimore (Baltimore), Seaview House Hotel & Spa (Bantry), Sneem Hotel (Sneem)

DAY 2–Tuesday, 1st October

Parknasilla Resort & Spa (Kerry), Arbutus Hotel (Killarney), Randles Hotel (Killarney), The Victoria (Killarney), Dingle Benners (Dingle)

DAY 3–Wednesday, 2nd October

Ballyseede Castle (Tralee), Dunraven Arms Hotel (Adare), Fitzgerald Woodlands House Hotel (Adare)

Day 4–Thursday, 3rd October

Vaughan Lodge Hotel (Lahinch), Sheedy's Boutique Hotel (Lisdoonvarna), Hylands Burren Hotel (Ballyvaughan)

Day 5–Friday, 4th October

Connemara Sands Hotel (Ballyconneeley), Abbeyglen Castle Hotel (Connemara)

Day 6–Saturday, 5th October

Lough Inagh Lodge Hotel (Connemara), Knockranny House Hotel (Westport), Clew Bay Hotel (Westport), Park Hotel Kiltimagh (Kiltimagh)

Day 7–Sunday, 6th October

Markree Castle (Collooney), Sandhouse Hotel (Rossnowlagh)

Day 8–Monday, 7th October

Mill Park Hotel (Mullans), Arnolds Hotel (Dunfanaghy)

End – Arnolds House Hotel, Dunfanaghy