Nissan Kilmacud Crokes / Breast Cancer Ireland M2M 2026 Donie's Blog Day 4

Evening folks,for anyone who thinks this trip is all ice cream and coffee stops,today was the complete opposite. Absolutely horrendous  !! Left the hotel in Carrick at 8 45,just starting to rain,as we went out the road it just got heavier and heavier, very difficult conditions and heavy traffic with a few lunatic drivers thrown in. We went 25k to Ballinamore for a very quick coffee, the group were singing "dirty ol' town" and "The ol' triangle" as we progressed through the lashing rain. What a brilliant distraction . 

After half an hour I was frozen and drowned, but not 1 complaint from anyone. Coffee was in a small pub at 10 o clock couldn't believe there were a few lads at the bar drinking pints,who were astonished by the state of all 11 of us coming in for coffee.....they gave us €50 for the charity !!

Onwards from here to Enniskillen in Northern Ireland.  We were absolutely flying despite the awful weather but we had to pull into a garage as Michael's electric bike needed another battery,which was in the support van with Mickey and Kevin. Kevin the navigator dropped them a pin,for our location, which might as well have been dropped in the Atlantic !! After a lot of phone calls etc,complicated as we were technically in another country,the boys arrived and supplied the battery and dry clothes for some people as it stopped raining. Think the 2 boys were more preoccupied by the big game at 5 o clock !!

On from here to the village of Kesh where all the support vans were with sandwiches for everyone. All fed we headed off again,told ye yesterday that there might be a few tricky climbs....i completely underestimated....Holy Saint Liam o Carroll(our overall leader on this trip and who picked the route). I used to be a little bit good at this cycling thing,but I've never,never been subjected to sooo many steep hills,one after the other. Having said that,Blue team,all 11 of us, conquered every one of them !! Onwards from here in more lashing rain to Castlederg and then on to Convoy,back in the republic but still not short of more hills,and more hills till we eventually came out on the main road to Letterkenny where we're staying tonight and tomorrow night . Boy was I glad to see that hotel  !! And well done Blue team .

We caught the last bit of the match which ended in a draw and went to extra time,super game with,victory for Westmeath and Mickey looked happier than Blue team coming in that hotel gate !! Him and Kevin are still talking so should be OK for 2 van men tomorrow. 

Hopefully I've posted two videos and a photo . One video is of Eamon,from another group but it totally depicts how horrible it was today . 

Like I said yesterday, we have an incredible bunch in Blue group:

William,who constantly talks about his new grandchild. 

Kevin,the navigator, who's also one of the hardest trainers for this event..he was out at least 6 times(3 more than 2 yrs ago)before last Wednesday. 

Colm...i bumped into his  mum at a pilates class 2 weeks ago and though she was his wife....very happy lady !!

Orla,just one of the lads on this trip,capable of everything we do and more. Considering she had keyhole surgery on her knee 3 weeks ago,unbelievable. Kevin and I booked in for keyhole next week  !! Lovely moment this morning in the rain Orla was cycling behind Declan,we stopped for a moment and she just leaned forward and centered his rear mudguard on his back wheel !!

Kieran....he's from Clare !!.

Electric Michael: stays at the back on his "tank" and calls warnings for the group of every vehicle that approaches from behind us.

More to follow. 

Then we have our support crew....

Liam,  overall leader and Denise.

Mickey and Kevin.

Ciarán and Mick.

Ronnie and Kevin.

Plus our 3 bikers.

What a fabulous job they do,and  thanks a million from all the cyclists  . 

Every evening, Liam and a couple of the lads serenade us after dinner...some craic(hopefully that's the other video)

Now to the photo,that's grandad William on the left and Electric Michael on the right(don't worry there's nothing in the background).

Guy in the middle is Declan,another of our team,Dec and I played hurling together for years in Crokes.

In 2015 Declan tragically lost his wife, Jacinte to breast cancer aged 48.Because they have 2 kids,this is the first opportunity Declan has had since then to do M2M .

Brings it all into perspective why we do this !!

Tomorrow is final day,no matter what the weather is like we'll get up to Malin head,hopefully around 3pm,can't wait !!

No  email tomorrow evening but I promise I'll finish of M2M 2026 on Monday. 

I've included the link to  the charity page at the top.....feel free to throw in a few bob if you can spare it. Hopefully you can see what a great causes it is .

Regards Donie.