Triple-bypass patient to trek through Mayo on marathon charity walk

A triple-bypass heart patient has set off on a 655km Malin Head-Mizen Head walk - also to take in Mayo - to thank the medical team which saved his life.

The mammoth trek from Donegal to Cork will take Cork men Liam McCarthy and family friend Charlie Lillis a fortnight – and along the way aims to raise €50,000 for the cardiac unit at Cork University Hospital (CUH).

The pair will pass through Claremorris this weekend as they make their way south.

Liam, 65, who ran the same route in his late 20s, says the care he received at the university teaching hospital gave him a second chance.

With €6,000 already raised, the pals set off at 6am on Monday from Malin Head on the 50km-a-day road and footpath trek which will also take in Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Limerick and their native Cork.

Liam, from Cork city’s southside, had never spent a night in hospital before chest pains prompted him to visit his GP, who arranged a stress test at CUH.

An angiogram later revealed severe arterial blockages which consultants told him warranted a triple bypass.

It was carried out successfully in late September 2024 – but Liam felt compelled to repay the kindness and compassion of the staff.

“I was down in recovery and looking at YouTube, thinking I can’t run that (Malin-Mizen) anymore but I found these two young lads in the US and they were walking from Delaware to San Francisco,” said Liam.

“I thought, ‘if they can do that, I can walk the length of Ireland’.” When he got talking to family friend and Mallow-based personal trainer Charlie, 30, he decided to join him.

Together, the pair will be helped by supporters, including driver Darragh Byrne, but are completely self-funding the trip, camping at night and only occasionally checking into a B&B for hot showers and recovery.

“I want to give something back to CUH, I was back there for a test in June, I was coming down the stairs and I said this is where I start the ball rolling, so I just walked into the CUH Charity office and told them what I wanted to do.”

He is also braving the challenge to honour his pal Mick Kelly, with whom he ran the exact same route in 1988, and who passed away from a cardiac event last year.

Liam is hoping everyone helps him and Charlie reach the fundraising target at www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/liammccarthy2 A delivery driver with his brother’s firm McCarthy Meats, he also printed 1,000 business cards containing the QR code so customers can donate to the cause.

He is also urging everyone to trust their gut when something does not feel right.

“If I didn’t go to my doctor that time, I could have been walking down Patrick’s Street and toppling over. I acted fast and I followed up on it.” He has made some lifestyle changes, but did not have to confront his stress levels.

“I don’t do stress, I don’t panic about anything, I’m a live-in-the-moment kind of guy.” If you can support Liam and Charlie’s effort, give what you can until September 30 to www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/liammccarthy2