At 65, Liam McCarthy, also known as Tubz, is no stranger to a challenge. Almost three decades after completing the journey once before, he is walking the length of Ireland from Malin Head to Mizen Head, this time with a very personal reason behind every step.
Liam is being joined on the challenge by family friend Charlie, and after three days on the road, I caught up with the pair to find out how they were getting on.
Liam’s goal is raising funds for the cardiothoracic unit at Cork University Hospital (CUH), the same hospital that played a vital role in his recovery after he began experiencing chest pain.
“I had discomfort in the chest about five times, with a big distance between them,” he explained. “The last time I said, look, there’s something serious around here. I’ve got to go and check it out with the doctor.”
Following tests, a stress test and an angiogram, Liam underwent heart surgery. After rehabilitation and gradually rebuilding his fitness, he began thinking about what he could do to give something back.
“I wouldn’t have seen the last two years when I saw them,” he said about the CUH team and the care he received. “So it means a lot.”
The idea of returning to the Malin to Mizen challenge had been on his mind for some time. Liam had originally planned to take on the route again as a personal challenge, but his experience with heart disease, and the loss of his friend Mick Kelly last September, gave the journey a deeper meaning.
The pair had completed the challenge together almost 30 years ago, when the adventure was more basic, and there was no technology to show them the way.
“We didn’t have mobile phones, we didn’t have GPS, we didn’t have sat-nav.”
“We used to just take a look at the map and figure out where we were going to go.”
Joining him this time is his friend Charlie Lillis, also known as Chaz, 29, a personal trainer who is currently training for the Dublin Marathon. Charlie was never going to let Liam take on the challenge alone.
“Tubz has been planning this, I’d say, since the day he woke up from his operation,” Charlie said. “He was told, right, you’re back to normal, you can start doing things. He was like, right, I want to do something, and I want to give back.”
Despite being used to covering long distances while running, Charlie admits that walking for seven or eight hours a day brings its own challenges.
“When I have a long one, it might be 30K, but I’ll be done in under two hours, whereas today we’re walking for seven, seven and a half, eight hours. You do feel it. It’s an awful lot more time on your feet.”
The pair are following broadly the same route Liam took 28 years ago, although modern roads and technology have made navigation considerably easier. Their days start early, with breakfast and they set off at 6am, walking for hours until they reach their next destination.
With much of the route taking them along busy roads, there’s no time for music or podcasts, they have to stay alert and listen out for traffic coming up behind them. Charlie sets the pace to keep them on track.
There have already been plenty of memorable moments, from strangers buying them coffees to people waving and beeping their support as they pass.
Charlie has also been documenting the journey on social media, where the response has been far greater than they expected.
“We put up our first post as an introductory kind of, this is what we’re doing, and it absolutely blew up.”
The fundraising effort had already passed €7,000 before the pair even set off, and they are hoping that sharing their progress will encourage more people to get involved and push the total higher.
For Liam, the reason behind the fundraising is simple: heart disease can affect anyone.
“We’ve all got a heart,” he said. “We don’t know when it’s going to give us problems.”
And while the physical challenge is undoubtedly demanding, Liam insists that his approach is not to overthink what lies ahead.
“I don’t do worry, I don’t do stress,” he said. “I live in the moment.”
That attitude has served him well as he continues south, one day and one step at a time. The journey is a test of endurance, but it is also a celebration of recovery, friendship and the people who helped give Liam the chance to take on another great adventure.
For Charlie, meanwhile, there is no doubt that the journey will be worth every sore foot.
“It’ll be a great adventure,” he said. “And obviously as we get down towards Cork, I hope people come out and join us. That’s when the real fun kind of starts.”
To make a donation to Liam and Charlie’s fundraiser, see here.
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