06/10/2014 Mon Ballydesmond toTralee
07/10/2014 Tue Tralee to Killarney (49 via Kilorgan TFB)
08/10/2014 Wed Killarney to Kenmare
09/10/2014 Thu Kenmare to Bantry
10/10/2014 Fri Bantry to Mizen Head
11/10/2014 Sat Mizen Head to Ballydehob
12/10/2014 Sun Ballydehob to Clonakilty

A decent day on Sunday I headed out of Charleville towards Freemont with North Cork runner Simon who had kindly picked me up from my hotel and dropped me back on the route where I finished on Saturday. I was a mild morning with a threat of rain. A while later his club mate Patsy O’Brien  replaced him and on we ran. Paudie introduced me to a friend telling him I was running around the world. ” Will he be back for a pint? ” was the mans reply!

Paudie a tough runner in his seventies returned home shortly afterwards.

Mike Mullins also a member of N. Cork AC joined in and went to a lot of trouble eventually rattling a few phones to find a runner to host me tonight. I would have been badly stuck tonight for later it was to rain heavily with no hotel or b & b and Mike was to find my host through his contacts.
We stopped at Kelly’s in Freemount who kindly sponsored us coffee and an apple tart, Thank you Rose!
So it was Mikes turn to say goodbye helping me again with another flurry of phone calls and was even late for an appointment.
It was fantastic to have all this wonderful support but I tired when they left. A chicken baguette in Newmarket soon got me going. Yet again and with even more new batteries I noticed my Spot tracker device is not tracking me again today.
It was about 20km to Ballydesmond my finish location that day. Halfway I was joined by Ed Murphy who Mike Mullins had managed to track down as a very willing host for he had heard my interview on the Ray Darcy show and was delighted for a chance to join in the run. A dairy farmer he had taken the day off to attend a cross country race and was on the way back home.
It rained heavily for the last half hour, I have been relatively lucky with the rain in Ireland.
Once again the Cork humor was in full swing for I was advised had the Dubs beaten Cork in the All-Ireland football that he wouldn’t have helped me, Still I wondered why he parked his car near the end of town and in heavy rain!
I stopped for the day with 46km at Bob’s Bar and commuted back to Ed’s farm, for he is a dairy farmer. We had big juicy steaks for dinner
thank you everyone
49,266km run for 1,136 road days.3 weeks to Dublin!

For more detail and photos please see Facebook pages for Tony Mangan and Siobhan Clifford

So much to report I dont know where to start. Today I ran 50km from Sixmilebridge where I was greeted by the mayor Sean Crowe yesterday. I ran to Charleville and noted once again my progress was only partially updated by my frustrating and unreliable Spot ‘ tracking ‘ device. It seems I have to put new batteries in it every second day whereas before it was every 10 days.

I was accompanied every step of the way by at least one athlete starting with Kate Flynn,  and Richard as far as Limerick. In Limerick Ciara took over and we had a great chat about her work in the Middle-East, amongst many other interesting stories.

Siobhan Stapleton also joined in at Cratloe am really enjoying myself now!

Then after a shelter from a downpour in Patrickswell where I stopped for a chicken and chips lunch I was joined by Tom Enright a great supporter of the blog since the start. Tom was riding his bicycle and accompanied me to the finish. On the way he tried to convince me I mistimed my Irish run as I ran by Lisdoonvarna a few days after the famed ‘ Match makers festival! On the way we were joined by another couple of tough runners John and Michael ‘ curly ‘ Cunningham, the latter an Irish hill running international in the masters class.

Shortly after these lads departed I had a bit of an energy crisis for I didn’t sleep well the previous night due to a lot of computer work. I need my recovery sleep more than ever now!

However I was run out of Limerick county by members of Kilmallock AC namely Jerry Sheedy and Michael Reynolds. While Simon Reynolds and Ed Hannon drove on ahead with flashing lights on those pretty hilly backroads. Many local runners including young children joined in as we ran to the Co. Cork ‘ border ‘

At the Cork ' border '

What a reception I got there for there were dozens of people standing out n the road and in their driveways. I stopped many times to shake their hands and talk about the run. Then North Cork AC joined in, the banter was mighty! I was like a pied piper, surely this was one of the best welcomes I had gotten on the whole run. More stopping, more children and runners joining in. Eventually I reached the church in Charleville where I finished my day. A short commute to Kilmallock where I was guest of the Deebert House Hotel as described in the last post, Thanks to everyone for their fantastic support and help.

All this wonderful help gave Siobhan Clifford an easy day in my support vehicle so she was able to catch up on some logistics. In all in Ireland I will be running in 20 counties of the 32 on the island of Ireland. Am past the halfway mark. This time three weeks the Ireland lap will be completed. I will just have the Dublin marathon to run. Ah yes, October 28th and a much dreamt of sleep in

Anyone that wants to join in the fun I plan to start from the church in Charleville tomorrow, Sunday at nine am ish! I will run to Bally Desmond via Newmarket

For further information on the run, contact Blue Bubble Marketing.

siobhanclifford42@gmail.com
or
087-2931029

Route for the next few days:

05/10/2014 Sun Charleville to Bally Desmond via newmarket
06/10/2014 Mon Ballydesmond toTralee
07/10/2014 Tue Tralee to Killarney (49 via Kilorgan TFB)
08/10/2014 Wed Killarney to Kenmare
09/10/2014 Thu Kenmare to Bantry
10/10/2014 Fri Bantry to Mizen Head
11/10/2014 Sat Mizen Head to Ballydehob
12/10/2014 Sun Ballydehob to Clonakilty

Thanks so much to the Deebert House Hotel in Killmallock for a complimentary nights stay!

Once again I am relaxing in luxury sponsored by the Deebert. The hotel is owned by an uncle of  Irelands greatest ever athlete Sonia O Sullivan. Unfortunately I just missed Sonia who was back here for a short break last week.

I was given a warm welcome by Margaret Atalla the hotel host.

Kilmallock Accommodation – Our Medieval Hotel in Kilmallock

Modern facilities and old world charm combine to create a twenty first century experience with the charm of a bygone era in our Kilmallock Hotel in County Limerick. Soft lighting and open fires with a homely glow reflect the warm welcome that awaits you here. Great care has been taken in choosing rich furnishings and fabrics to create a warm relaxing ambience to enhance your escape to the country.

Please see the hotel website HERE