On Saturday 2nd August 2025, our Northampton to Belmullet cycling team set off from The Swan & Helmet in Northampton on an ambitious six-day journey to reach Belmullet, in County Mayo, Ireland. The group, made up of cyclists from across the UK and Ireland, was tackling more than 700km in total – all in aid of raising vital funds for our charity and six organisations local to Belmullet.
By the fifth day of the challenge – Wednesday 6th August – the riders faced their longest and most testing stretch of the route: 170.26km from Trim, Co. Meath, through Mullingar and Ballymahon, before crossing into Co. Roscommon. By the time we reached Lisacul, their legs were definitely feeling the miles, but the warm welcome we received quickly revived our spirits. Local gardaí (police) provided an escort into the village, where people from Lisacul and the surrounding communities gathered at the roadside and outside Creaton’s Bar with signs, applause, and plenty of encouragement.
Even before we arrived, the Lisacul community had been supporting us. Earlier in the summer, on July 20th, Suzanne and Eva Roddy organised a BBQ fundraiser at Creaton’s Bar, rallying the whole village and surrounding areas to support the Northampton to Belmullet challenge. Their efforts raised an impressive €8,155 (£7,041.03), and seeing those same supporters cheering us into Lisacul made this stop a real high point of the journey.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who donated and contributed to this cause, and all funds will be supporting both our charity, and six charitable organisations local to Belmullet.
