By Jonathan Brown
Martin McClean is taking on a huge challenge next Saturday (25 April) as he aims to cycle past the grounds of every Down Senior Championship winner in the 123-year history of the competition.
He’s completing the cycle as part of Castlewellan GAC’s sold-out I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here-themed Jungle Fundraiser, which will take place at the Slieve Donard Hotel on 16 May. Former Town player Martin is one of 24 ‘contestants’ taking part in the Jungle Fundraiser, and he explained how he landed on the idea.
“I’m raising funds for my GAA club, so I wanted my fundraiser to be GAA-orientated. I sat down one night and thought to myself – ‘I wonder if I could cycle to the grounds of all the clubs in Down that have won a Senior Championship.’ I looked at the feasibility of it and kind of wrote it off, but then I decided I’d give it a try. It’s a slog and a challenge, but I don’t mind that. You are full of a bit of self-doubt, but I’ve put my hand up now and said that I’m going to do this – must is a good master.”
Martin will begin his cycle at 6am on Saturday morning, travelling from Castlewellan to Páirc Tomás Ruséil, home of RGU Downpatrick, before taking in the grounds of Loughinisland, St John’s, Annsborough, Liatroim Fontenoys, Kilcoo, Clan Na Banna, Drumgath, Clonduff, Mayobridge, Glenn, Páirc Esler (for Newry Mitchels, Newry Shamrocks and clubs not in existence anymore – Faugh-a-Ballagh and Clann Uladh), Burren, Warrenpoint, Rostrevor, An Riocht, Ballymartin and Bryansford.
The keen cyclist was part of Castlewellan’s back-to-back Senior Championship-winning side of 1994/95 and will be joined by fellow members of that squad – Audie McVeigh, captain Paddy Hardy, Martin McKibbin, Donal Ward, and Paul Duffin (co-manager alongside Danny Keown), who will complete various legs of the cycle with Martin.
Former Town player Michael McKibbin will form part of the back-up team alongside other Castlewellan club members, providing food, water and clothing changes. Martin plans to get a picture outside every ground before completing the journey back at St Malachy’s Park – he hopes to complete his cycle within 13 hours.
If you would like to donate towards Martin’s fundraising cycle, you can do so via the link below. All proceeds will go towards essential maintenance costs and the redevelopment of the Castlewellan GAC clubhouse.
