A remarkable Donegal woman has completed her own ‘camino’ in the hills of Donegal.
Peggy Stringer (Kelly), a popular dermal clinician from Carndonagh, has accomplished a 160km week-long trek through the county this week in aid of Cancer Care West.
Peggy battled the elements, braved great heights and inspired many friends on her journey.
For many years, Peggy has walked parts of the Camino in Spain (The trail of St James). With the lockdown not allowing her to go to Spain, she decided to do her own Camino in her own county of Donegal. Her great ambition was that she would raise a substantial amount of money for Cancer Care West and the Donegal branch in particular. Overall, her challenge has raised €5,465 for the charity and donations are still coming in daily.
A native of Carndonagh, Peggy now lives in Dublin and has developed a very successful skincare business at the Monkstown Laser Skin Clinic. Peggy is vice president of the Donegal Association. She is a lifetime member and a strong supporter of the Association and all that it does for Donegal people everywhere.
At the end of August this year, Peggy set out on her Donegal Camino starting out in her beloved Inishowen. She was joined by a few friends at the most northerly point of Ireland at Malin to eventually finish at the highest cliffs of Europe at Sliabh Liag.
Peggy covered a distance of 160 km on her special journey from Banba’s Crown Malin Head to her final destination.
Day one allowed her to see the beauty of her home area taking in the beautiful beaches of Inishowen and in particular the lovely five fingers beach. She made her way over the Urris hills in Clonmany and into Fanad over Knockalla and Portsalon to Fanad Lighthouse following along the Wild Atlantic Way and the Rossguill Peninsula and onto Ards Forest Park.
Heading up Errigal is a challenge any day, but Peggy, having been walking for a number of days conquered the mountain on a windy and a wet September day which was a great challenge and achievement.
Day seven saw Peggy in Ardara for the penultimate challenge a 12km walk on the Sheskinmore Nature Reserve between Sandfield and Rosbeg. There, she enjoyed amazing scenes of beautiful untouched natural scenery which was something special for all on the walk that day. Peggy had the joy of staying in Ardara for the last number of days and enjoyed the delights of the good food served up by the various restaurants.
The final day of Peggys Donegal Camino was to Sliabh Liag. Local and popular hill climber and tour guide Kevin Maguire led Peggy and her friends into the mountains of Glencolmcille, starting at the top of Sliabh League and finishing some 5 hours later down the Pilgrims Path to the Rusty Mackerel. Peggy and friends had the privilege of visiting the Sliabh League Distillery at Carrick. James and Moira Doherty kindly showed all around and donated some of their special Dulaman Gin products towards the cause.
On Saturday night after the trek along Sliabh League, Peggy was joined by friends and members of the Donegal Association and the people of Ardara for a lovely meal in the Nesbitt Arms Hotel. Peggy was duly thanked for what she had done this week for Cancer Care West Letterkenny branch.
“Peggy is a determined lady when she says she is going to do something she surely does it!,” said Stephen McCahill, Donegal Person of the Year for 2016.
“What she did this past week raising over €5000 for cancer most certainly makes Peggy Stringer a hero.”
Anyone can still donate on www.idonate.ie/PeggyStringer.
Tags: