Man scales Croagh Patrick for 365th time in a year
Matt Loughrey, a 32-year-old father of two, vowed to climb the mountain every day for charity when he started last June.
He will complete the 764-metre climb for the last time today, accompanied by dozens of supporters including rugby legend Mick Galwey.
Representatives from St Vincent de Paul, who Matt has already raised more than €30,000 for, will also make the climb.
“I don’t know how I will react after it is all done; it is going to be a weird feeling for certain. I won’t miss the physicality of it all, but I will definitely miss the craic of the climbs. You tend to meet some real characters, but I am probably the strangest of them all,” said Matt.
After taking a month off to let his body recover from 278,860m of climbing — he has lost more than 28lbs throughout the year — Matt will return to tackle the next leg of his fundraising.
“After going to America to recharge the batteries, it will be straight into the next leg of the 365 challenge,” said Matt.
“It will be a water-based event which has been in planning for the last four months. The model works: if people continue to give to the charity then why should I stop? I have given a three-year commitment to do this and I fully intend on carrying it on.”
The seeds of the 365 challenge were sown in the summer of 2005 when Matt worked as a tour guide on the mountain.
“I was one of three people hired to assist the pilgrims on the mountain back in 2005 for the centenary of the oratory. We’d climb the reek every day with the key to the church and meet and greet people. I really fell in love with Croagh Patrick that summer so I suppose that is where it all started.
“I’m sure on Sunday I will probably wake up a bit hungover, but I am going to go bowling with my two wee lads, Frank, 3, and George, 2. Returning to normal for a while will be nice.”
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