Patrick's Hill finale has become 'iconic' part of Tour de Munster, says Paul Sheridan

Now in its 25th year, the Tour de Munster has raised more than €5m for the Munster branches of Down Syndrome Ireland.

Founder and organiser, Paul Sheridan, a keen cyclist, is the only participant to have completed the 600km journey through the towns and villages of Munster in every edition, clocking up more than 15,000km in support of the cause.

Money raised funds vital services and support for adults and children with Down Syndrome.

Starting on August 7, more than 100 people take part in the challenge every year – with the final lap involving cycling up Patrick’s Hill, no mean feat, on August 10.

Paul, an engineer, says one of the reasons he established the Tour de Munster is because “we all benefit from kindness, whether we’re giving it or receiving it”.

One of Paul’s heroes is the late Paul Newman who gave €10m annually to his Gang Camps for seriously sick children. There is a camp in Barrettstown, Kildare.

“Inspired by him, I aim to raise €100,000 annually for charity,” said Paul

“When I started the Tour de Munster, I had a ten-year vision of 100 cyclists raising €100,000 for each of the Munster branches of Down Syndrome Ireland. Sadly, this probably wouldn’t be enough to pay for two therapists in each branch.

“But, combined with other fund-raising activities, it is a huge help for the most vulnerable people in our society. These people have a very special ability. It’s the ability to make the rest of us feel special when we show them a little bit of kindness.”

The title sponsor of this year’s Tour de Munster is u-blox, the company Paul works for. He has succeeded in bringing on the various companies he has worked for over the years as the main sponsors.

Determined and dedicated to the cause, he has always loved sport.

“I believe the sense of achievement that comes with sport is very good for people. It shouldn’t be the preserve of top athletes. Other people should have that feeling too.”

Paul has tried various sports, but particularly enjoys cycling because of the camaraderie involved as well as the opportunity to enjoy the scenery while out and about.

“You can push yourself hard when you want to and you can ease off if you want to. It’s the same enjoyment you got as a child.

“I still wouldn’t consider myself a good cyclist. I have never raced and wouldn’t imagine I could feature in a race. But I just enjoy the exercise.

“You can save 40% of energy by cycling behind someone else. If they’re strong, they can look after someone who is weak, allowing them to go the same distance without expending the same amount of energy. That for me was a real eye-opener.”

Paul points out that it’s often said society is judged by how it looks after its weakest. “There’s a huge benefit for cyclists who sit in the slipstream of the person in front of them. The professionals do it. They do all the hard work, taking the wind for the person behind them.”

Thanks to a contact, cycling legend Sean Kelly, one of the most successful road cyclists of the 1980s and one of the finest Classics riders of all them, agreed to come on board the Tour de Munster in 2006. This year will be his 19th cycle with the fund-raiser.

“When Sean was in the Tour de France, he didn’t get as much time to exercise. When he spends the four days on the Tour de Munster, he knows he will recover his physical fitness. That’s important to him. And he has made some very close friends through the Tour de Munster.”

West Cork’s Olympian rower Gary O’Donovan took part in 2023 and said it was the best thing he had ever done.

There is nobody in Paul’s family with Down Syndrome. He says that is pertinent. If we only become passionate about a cause that affects a family member, people will say we have a vested interest.

“I think it’s important to pick a charity that affects someone else; that is altruism. Someone said that the real definition of kindness is doing something for someone who will never know that you did it.”

Cheered on by people all over Munster during the Tour de Munster, Paul says the grand finale – cycling to the top of Patrick’s Hill – requires a lot of training.

“It wasn’t introduced until the tenth tour. Now it’s iconic,” says this enthusiastic and altruistic cyclist.

• See www.tourdemunster.com