Five marathons in five days, and then up Croagh Patrick

“He can’t be serious,” rang the chorus. “He’ll never get over this,” was the response from his startled mother on hearing what her first-born son was up to now.

‘I always knew he was mad,’ nodded an old man knowingly on hearing the news that a Westmeath man was going to attempt the longest pedestrian pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick ever recorded – certainly in modern times.

But serious he is this time, and on Monday May 20, Westmeath Examiner columnist Bernie Comaskey will set off to climb Croagh Patrick.

The big difference is that he will set off on foot from St Camillus Nursing Centre, Killucan, and attempt to walk all the way to the top of Croagh Patrick inside a week.

The walk will entail doing the equivalent of five marathons in five days – not bad for a man facing 70 years of age next year! All of this effort is intended to raise cash for the Patients’ Comfort Fund at the Camillians. This is a sponsored walk.
“I still have two good legs, thank God,” Bernie said at the launch of his fundraiser at the St Camillus Nursing Centre last Wednesday.

“I am familiar with so many residents in here whose legs don’t work so good any more, including my own mother, and that is what inspired me to put mine to use in order to raise a few quid to make life more comfortable for the wonderful people I know inside these four walls.
“I have learned so much from all these fantastic old people and I want to give something back.”
It is not about himself, Bernie was anxious to emphasise: “It is about raising badly needed funds for the greatest nursing home in the country, and one which is not state-funded. I don’t want anyone to come up to me and say ‘aren’t you great’ or ‘well done Bernie’ without putting their hands in their pockets and giving me a bit of sponsorship – no matter how small.

“No, the great ones are the religious and staff who lovingly look after the needs of the residents here day in and day out.”

The 130-mile hike, culminating in the climbing of St Patrick’s holy mountain, is a mammoth undertaking in any man’s language.

The Westmeath Examiner will carry a daily web blog on our man’s progress and Bernie’s diary of his experiences along the 350,000 steps of the way will be carried in these pages the following week.

Sponsorship cards are now ready for circulating for anyone who might like to help. Or you can send a donation to; Graftonstown, Bracklyn, Mullingar; leave an envelope at the Westmeath Examiner Office or at the desk in St Camillus Nursing Centre, Killucan. It is important to note that every euro collected will go straight to the fund and there will be absolutely no expenses taken.

Bernie’s route, timetable and stop-over points will be posted well in advance, so that friends can drop by in the evening and give a bit of moral support… And a few bob, as Bernie might add!