Limerick cyclists 700km challenge raises more than €7,000 for Limerick Suicide Watch

Limerick to Larne cycling fundraiser challenge raises more than €7,000 for Limerick Suicide Watch

Three Limerick cyclists took on a 700km cycle from Limerick to Larne to raise funds for Limerick Suicide Watch

Three Limerick cyclists, Alan Gill, Sam Den Dikken, and David Shyne, have completed a 700km cycle over nine days from Limerick to Larne, Co Antrim, in a bid to raise funds for Limerick Suicide Watch.

With a target of €9,000, and donations still coming in through GoFundMe, the group has raised more than €7,000 as they passed some of the country’s incredible landmarks.

Speaking about the challenge, the group said, “On the 17th of July we set out cycling 700km from Limerick along the west coast to Donegal, across the north of Ireland past the Giant’s Causeway, and then down to Larne, to raise funds for Limerick Suicide Watch.”

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The group took on the demanding multi-day ride through some of Ireland’s toughest coastal terrain to support a cause that “matters deeply” to the trio.

Alan Gill, told I Love Limerick, “People see a big cycle like ours and think, ‘Fair play, that’s an amazing achievement.’ But the hardest job is what those volunteers do. They show up every single night, helping people who are at the absolute lowest point in their lives. They’re the people making the real difference.”

Limerick Suicide Watch provides vital, on-the-ground support for people in Limerick experiencing mental health crises. Their volunteers patrol the River Shannon, offer reassurance at critical moments, and connect individuals with the support they need. Their work is quiet, consistent, and genuinely life-saving.

Preparing for the trip, Alan shared his gratitude to RAW Cycles, who helped with €2,000 worth of cycling equipment.

Alan noted, “To be honest, we didn’t really know what to expect because none of us had ever done anything like this before. A few weeks beforehand we cycled down to Lahinch, about 65 kilometres, which now seems like quite a short day. At the time, though, it was our first proper practice ride.

“I remember we stopped in Ennis for something to eat, and when I got back on the bike my right quad cramped completely. I had to cycle the remaining 25 kilometres into Lahinch with cramp the whole way. I remember saying to my girlfriend, Sarah, afterwards, ‘How am I ever going to cycle nearly 700 kilometres? There’s no way I can do that.’”

With just two practice sessions under their belt, the trio set off on the challenge. “Before we knew it, the day had arrived, and we headed off on Friday the 17th of July,” Alan said, adding, “Thankfully, we couldn’t have asked for better weather. It was around 22 or 23 degrees every day, and although we thought it might be too hot, once you’re on the bike the breeze keeps you cool, so it was actually ideal cycling weather. We probably made things harder for ourselves than we needed to on the first day. We headed towards Kinvara, where we’d booked Kitty’s Campsite for the night. They very kindly let us stay there free of charge, which was incredibly generous.”

The first night camping gave the group “a bit of a reality check”, Alan explaining how between them they only managed three to four hours sleep, “I don’t know, maybe we’re just not built for camping,” he said. The following morning, on behalf of the group, Alan began to email accommodation, where “the generosity people showed us completely blew us away”, with B&Bs, hotels, and guest houses sponsoring their accommodation along the way.

From Kinvara, the group made their way to Cong and Ballina, then the cyclists headed towards Sligo, where they reached the Windy Gap on the Mayo-Sligo border after a challenging climb. The views from the top lifted their spirits after the miles had begun to take their toll, before they continued on to complete a demanding 90-kilometre day.

After a night in Grange, just outside Sligo, the group faced one of their toughest days when Sam suffered a puncture on the way to Donegal. With no spare tubes available, Dave cycled 25 kilometres to Bundoran to find a bike shop, before the trio eventually arrived in Donegal Town.

The group’s route then took them from Donegal Town to Derry, before continuing on to Portrush, the Giant’s Causeway, Ballycastle and Cushendall, before eventually reaching their final destination of Larne.

Alan said, “For days we’d been completely focused on getting through one kilometre after another, and all of a sudden the finish line was actually within reach. We stopped later that morning for a coffee and some lunch before tackling the final stretch into Larne.

“Honestly, those last few miles felt like they took forever because we were so close. Every turn we thought we’d see the finish, but it always seemed just a little bit further away.”

After completing the challenge, the group shared on social media, “Genuinely the trip of a lifetime, made even more special by the incredible amount raised for Limerick Suicide Watch.

“As of now, we’ve raised €7,335. An absolutely incredible figure. When we first set out, we genuinely thought we might raise €2,000-€3,000, so to have more than doubled that is beyond anything we imagined.

“The trip may be over, but the journey is only beginning. We’ll be keeping this page active and plan to take on new challenges every year, or every few months, to continue raising money for vital local causes.”

You can donate to the Limerick to Larne fundraiser through GoFundMe HERE.