GALWAY GARDEN founder Jenny Beale intends to mark her six decades on the planet this month by cycling 600 miles in the trail of seventh-century Irish monks. Ms Beale, founder and director of Brigit’s Garden in Roscahill, west Galway, has been in training for several months.
She intends to set out on the 600 mile/1,000km challenge in less than a fortnight, following the route of seventh-century monks from Lough Corrib who founded the only known early Irish monastery on the English south coast.
“It will be a big adventure, but I am enjoying training and I hope to inspire others to get fit and have fun by cycling,” Ms Beale said.
Her route “connects two wonderful landscapes – the west of Ireland and Sussex”.
She wants to raise money for two charities – Brigit’s Garden, designed to reflect the four Celtic seasons, and the Chichester Harbour Trust in England.
Labour Party presidential candidate Michael D Higgins endorsed the challenge yesterday, noting that “like me, she has a very big race ahead of her”.
“Born out of her passion for nature and the environment, Brigit’s Garden provides the people of Galway with a beautiful green space and a lovely place for reflection and play,” Mr Higgins said. “I wish Jenny a speedy and safe journey and not least, a happy 60th birthday.”
Ms Beale, a mother of three, said she expects 60 cyclists to join her on the first 10 miles of the route into Galway city on August 20th. She hopes to complete the cycle in 16 days and will be maintaining a blog on jennyscharitycycle.wordpress.com