Two pals have finished the adventure of a lifetime after trekking from Donegal to Dingle on horseback.
John Doherty and Shane Barry finished their 450km challenge on Friday amid great celebrations.
The ‘cowboys’ have raised an estimated €20,000 for Ronald McDonald House and Cian’s Kennels, with the grand total to be revealed soon (donations still being accepted here).
Traversing beautiful landscapes and country roads, John and Shane battled rain and sunshine over two weeks. The highlight was the overwhelming support and generosity they received in every county they visited along the west coast.
“It’s been a trip of a lifetime,” John told Donegal Daily. “The goodwill of people the whole way down was unbelievable.”
Arias Adventures Donegal to Dingle Trek reaches the finish line
Tracey and John in Dingle
John and Shane took on the Aria’s Adventures challenge in memory of beloved baby girl Aria Rose Wilkie-Barry, who passed away in February, aged 16 months. Little Aria Rose had spent almost her entire life in hospital, having been born prematurely with severe complex needs. Her mum Tracey Wilkie is from Letterkenny and her dad Shane Barry is originally from Ballygawley.
The support that Tracey and Shane received from Ronald McDonald House and Cian’s Kennels during Aria Rose’s short life inspired them to give back in honour of her legacy.
“Aria’s story has been told in every county along the way, keeping her name alive,” says John.
“She was watching over us every step of the way, we could see the signs.”
The trek wasn’t without its risks, but the team put in careful planning to choose a safe route and take care of the horses’ wellbeing. The two main horses, Tom and Jerry, received plenty of breaks and alternative horses were used on various days.
On the final day, it was Tom and Jerry and Spot that brought John, Shane and Tracey into Dingle.
They paraded through the town and finished with a celebratory lap in the parade ring at the Dingle Races. When they dismounted, it was an emotional but unforgettable moment.
John, Tracey and Shane celebrate in Dingle
Shane and Spot take their trek to the pub
Despite the exhaustion, John says he would do it all again tomorrow!
“Helping other people is what we set out to do, but I got so much out of this as well.
“It was a big undertaking, but it was a trip of a lifetime. This will be talked about for a long time in the horse world and it’s a unique way to raise money. “
The Arias Adventure team said they can’t thank everyone enough for their donations and help along the way.
john said: “It was the simple things that people did that helped us so much. People came out, out of the goodness of their hearts, to welcome us to their counties, feed us and give us the lay of the land.
“We are so grateful to everyone who offered us places to stay and stables for the horses.”
There’s still time to donate to Aria’s Donegal to Dingle Trek. All donations, big or small, are greatly appreciated: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/ariasadventures
