A Co Cavan man is putting his best foot forward in an effort to raise much needed funds for the homeless.
To celebrate his 83rd Birthday, Gregory O'Reilly is planning a Vintage Cycle on his 1960's Raleigh bike by completing 165km. The Bailieboro native is going to travel the National Famine Way from Strokestown in Co Roscommon to Dublin City.
The National Famine Way is a unique and historic trail that traces the footsteps of the 1,490 famine emigrants who left Strokestown in 1847. All proceeds raised will go to Help Our Homeless based in Kingscourt but who do great work feeding people living on the streets of Dublin.
This isn't the first time that Gregory has got on his bike for charity, it's not even the first time in the last 9 months. He cycled 30km for his 61st wedding anniversary in July 2024 to raise funds for a new minibus for the Holy Family School in Cootehill.
Speaking to Northern Sound, he did say that 165km is certainly the unknown as 30km is the most he has ever cycled to date. The local man says he was left compelled to help the most vulnerable in society, the homeless after a recent trip to the capital.
Gregory said Jim Callery who founded the National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park, walked the 165km trail for his 90th birthday last year was his inspiration, he said, "I thought if that man is 90 and he walked it surely I can ride it on a bike."
And when it comes to seeing if the soon to be 83-year-old is an 'avid' cyclist, that is certainly not the case, "I had a bicycle at home as a teenager and I went to England when I was 19, I was 10 years there and I was 35 years in Dublin but during that time I never was on a bicycle at all."
