Man set to finish 2,060km trek from Donegal to Cork today

Wicklow man Gordon Maher, who has been on a more-than-2,000km trek across Ireland for the last 85 days, will finish his journey in Kinsale today.

Mr Maher has been travelling the distance from Malin Head in Donegal to Mizen Head in Cork since April 1, spending the majority of his days walking in all weather conditions and primarily wild camping.

The Greystones native, who is deaf in one ear, told The Echo that his decision to undertake the challenge came following an accident in 2024 which saw him in need of a hip replacement.

After his surgery, Mr Maher was left with a 15mm discrepancy in the length of one of his legs, leading to extensive medical treatment and prolonged physiotherapy.

Long Recovery

“I had a really long recovery,” said Mr Maher. “I was in physio for 10 months before I could get back up on my feet.”

After discovering a physio programme centred on hiking and mobility, Mr Maher began planning his 2,060km journey in April 2025.

“I bought myself a pair of boots and started planning,”added Mr Maher. “It took me three months to build a track and then I started training.

“This was all about proving to myself that I could do it, that I could actually do something after the operation and that my physical life wasn’t over.

“I’ve had some really tough times out here. I don’t think I was ready for the loneliness — I was physically ready but some days I might not see a single person.

“There’s a lot of times where you just want to give up and throw in the towel but you have to dig deep.”

While Mr Maher has been camping for most of his trip, battling both sub-zero temperatures and severe heat over the last three months, every six days he stays in a B&B and receives a pre-packaged supply drop with rations and other essentials.

Stamina and willpower

“I knew from the start that I had good stamina. I don’t give up easily, so I knew my willpower would push me through. I just didn’t know if my body was going to hold up,” he said.

“I’ve had amazing experiences. The people I have met, the sights I’ve seen, that’s been the best part for me. It’s something I will never forget or regret doing.”

Mr Maher said he will be joined by family and friends in Kinsale tomorrow for his homecoming, a destination he is looking forward to reaching.

“I can’t wait to get into a bed for a couple of nights,” he said.