Island walk for Western Care promises family fun day

THE annual Clare Island walk, which has to date raised over €100,000 for Western Care Association services, promises to be bigger and better than ever this year.

The Mayo-based charity currently supports 850 people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism.

The event on July 8 offers three separate walks of 5km, 8km and 12km to cater for different levels of fitness. It brings participants by ferry from Roonagh Pier to Clare Island, where they can use a route map to enjoy the breath-taking views along the way. The morning will conclude with a goody bag and well deserved lunch for all the walkers at Clare Island Community Hall.

The Clare Island Walk for WCA was started in 2015 by a group of dedicated volunteers, Willie Murphy and Tom Cusack, who are still involved to date. Since then, the fundraiser has paid for vital equipment in Western Care facilities, such as ceiling hoists, wet room renovations, improved flooring, as well as providing memorable experiences such as day trips for residents.

Mary Farrell is one of the organisers and expects there to be a huge uptake for the event in July.

She said: “There’s a fantastic community spirit in evidence every year at the Clare Island Walk for Western Care. We love seeing locals and visitors, young and old, getting together to have fun, exercise, and most of all enjoy the really beautiful scenery on Clare Island.

“I’d like to thank O’Heire’s transport who will again provide the bus transport from Castlebar and Westport, and O’Grady’s Ferry who will bring the walkers to and from the Island on the day. We’re also really grateful to Padraig O’Malley and Maureen Pender who look after the participants so well every year with a delicious lunch.”

Interim CEO Dr. Aoife O’Donohue from Western Care Association said: “The annual Clare Island walk has proven to be a really important fundraiser for us and we’re always blown away by the goodwill of the locals who make this happen. The monies raised from the walk have been invaluable in terms of enhancing Western Care services in the Mayo area and we would really encourage people to join in on the event again in July. It’s a fun day out in a beautiful part of the county.”

Booking and payment in advance is essential to ensure adequate places are available on buses and the ferry. To book your place, please contact Mary Farrell on (087) 2881217 or Helen Gibbons on (094) 9029100.

On the day, registration will also be available at Roonagh Pier at 10.15 a.m. Transfers to and from Roonagh Pier will be available from Newport, Castlebar and Westport.

The entry fee for the walk is €60 per person, €100 per couple and €5 per child, or minimum donation of €60 via sponsorship card and/or online donation at https://www.idonate.ie/event/theclareislandwalk2023.