Rapturous Blueball welcome as Paul completes '23 Peaks'

All roads leading to Blueball were lined with wellwishers on Saturday evening last as the local community turned out in force to give a rapturous welcome to endurance athlete, Paul Tierney, after he completed the final leg of the 'Ashling Murphy 23 Peaks Challenge.'

Despite enduring an extremely tough day on his bike on Friday at the height of Storm Betty, Paul, who is a native of Newport in Mayo, expressed his delight at completing the tough challenge to conquer the 23 highest peaks in Ireland while travelling via bike and on foot and carrying all his camping equipment.

Having set a fundraising target of €23,000, the Mayo man is well on his way to achieving that target, and the Ashling Murphy Memorial Fun has thanked the “many wonderful and generous people” who joined Paul on the peaks, sent message of support and donated to the fundraiser.

As well as donations from the 23 Peaks Challenges going to the Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund, funds will also go towards the Children's Grief Centre, which is a free support service for children aged 4-18 yrs affected by loss.

A special evening of celebration took place in the Blue Ball pub on Saturday evening to mark the end of the 23 Peaks and to provide a fitting homecoming for Paul Tierney. Music was provided by Ballyboy Comhaltas, of which the late Ashling Murphy was an integral part during her short life.

The total of 23 peaks was chosen to represent one peak for each year of Ashling Murphy's life. The one-man, unaided, challenge saw Paul Tierney cycling between, and then scaling, 23 of Ireland's highest peaks. He set off from Ashling's native Blueball on Wednesday, August 9, for the 11-day challenge and said he received “huge support” right around the country.

The scale of the endurance athlete's achievement is staggering. Over the course of approximately 105 hours, or 11 days, he climbed 23 peaks, running 172km; cycling 1,200 km, and climbing over 21,000 metres.

The final leg of the huge fundraiser involved a 40km cycle from Athlone to Blueball on Saturday last for an evening of music, song and dance in memory of the 23-year old Offaly schoolteacher who was fatally assaulted on the banks of the Canal at Cappincur on January 12, 2022.

The Murphy family thanked Paul Tierney for his fundraising efforts and said they were “overwhelmed” at his generosity in taking on such a marathon challenge. They also thanked all those who have continued to support the Memorial Fund set in in memory of their beloved daughter which will ensure that her huge legacy in the world of traditional music, sport, education and the promotion of Irish culture will never be forgotten.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the fundraiser is asked to go to: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/AshlingMurphy23Peaks