26 Mountains to Mayo - Logistics, Leadership & Impact

26 Mountains to Mayo – A Journey of Purpose, Resilience and Teamwork

26 County High Points. 9 Days. One Shared Purpose.

In June, a group of 25 individuals set out on an extraordinary journey: to summit the high point of each of Ireland’s 26 counties in just nine days, all in support of Cancer Fund for Children.

The challenge — known as 26 Mountains to Mayo— demanded far more than physical endurance. It required preparation, trust, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to one another and to the cause. Over the course of nine days, the team travelled through 32 counties, hiked 75 kilometres, climbed 10,759 metres of elevation, and covered 2,170 kilometres by road— all bound together by a shared ‘why’.

The Challenge at a Glance

🏔 26 county high points (Six of the county high points share summits)

🗺 32 counties travelled

🥾 175km hiked

⛰ 10,759m elevation gained

🚐 2,170km driven

👥 25 participants

⏱ Completed in 9 days

The Journey: Nine Days on Ireland’s High County High Points

Day 1 – Setting the Tone

The opening day was about finding rhythm — not just on the mountain, but as a team. Training quickly paid dividends as pacing, communication, and trust came to the forefront. The challenge ahead felt immense, but the foundations were strong. We were encouraged by none other than Nikki Bradley from Seanad Éireann, whom has a hugely motivating personal journey that set us up for taking on Errigal (751m) Donegal, Sawel (678m) Derry/Tyrone, Trostan (550m) Antrim.

Day 2 – Reality Sets In

Muscles felt the work of Day 1, and the reality of nine consecutive days in the mountains began to sink in. This was where resilience mattered most — steady progress, encouragement shared freely, and a growing sense of collective responsibility. A day shared with many a famous Rugby International whom came out in support of CFFC and family members joined us on our opening Mountain of the day Slieve Donard (850m) Down, onto Slieve Foye (598m)Louth and finishing with a little beauty on Slieve Gullion (573m) in Armagh.

Day 3 – Weather and Adaptability

Irish mountains rarely offer guarantees. Changing conditions demanded flexibility and sound decision making. It was a reminder that preparation isn’t about controlling the environment — it’s about responding to it safely and confidently. Finding our rhythm in tougher weather conditions, with low cloud and rain. Whilst one never minds when you are well kitted out for it, but it does add another layer of resilience when you’ve one mountain done and two more to go….it takes real mental fortitude to get back into wet rain gear and damp boots in a cloud of mist to take on the next two mountains ahead. But this team dug deep and emerged smiling knowing what they were undertaking was just a drop in the ocean, when compared to the challenges the children and families of CFFC face. Todays efforts started off in a bog, Beagh East Top (373m) Monaghan, onto Cuilcagh (665m) Fermanagh/Cavan and then Truskmore (647m) Silgo/Leitrim, where the winds howled and the rain came down in torrents but it was the end of the day and there was a real sense of elation getting ⅓ through this challenge, team spirits soared.

Day 4 – Fatigue Meets Teamwork

This was the day when fatigue could no longer be ignored. Pace steadied, but morale lifted. No one was left behind. The team rallied, proving that strength comes not just from legs and lungs, but from unity. The sun shone brightly throughout the day and lifted the spirits of all, a leisurely pace ensued as we gathered momentum taking on no less than 6 county high points (described as an active rest day!!!) on some of Ireland’s most sacred ground, beautiful forest tracks and ending the day on the aptly named Cupidstown Hill where we gatecrashed a lovely couples romantic evening as they were enveloped by the jovial spirits of the team as the sun began to set. Seltannasaggart (412m) Roscommon, Cornhill (278m) Longford, Mullaghmeen (258m) Westmeath, Carbane East (276m) Meath, Arderin (527m) Loais/Offally and Cupidstown Hill (379m) Kildare.

Day 5 – Shared Summits, Shared Effort

With several counties sharing summits, logistics became as important as leg strength. Seamless transitions and efficient planning kept momentum alive, allowing the team to focus on the climb rather than the complexity behind it. The team were getting stronger as endurance and resilience was building with each mountain. There was a real sense of self belief and a quiet confidence building that they can and will complete this challenge together as one. Enjoying a lie in (8am start!!) We started out with a nice jaunt up the road in trainers/trail shoes (the feet welcomed the change of surface and footwear) Kippure (757m) Dublin and then onto Lugnaquilla (925m) Wicklow. We were encouraged by supporters coming out in awe of what their loves ones were achieving and putting themselves through. A field of Irish Rugby legends rallied to show their solidarity to the charity and share their stories of digging deep in the trenches. The day may have started out in cloud but we got the most wonderful cloud inversion experience as we topped out upon Lugnquailla’s summit, enjoying the warmth of the sunshine we soaked up the sense of walking in the heavens. It’s a truly magical experience and elevated a real sense of camaraderie,17 mountains completed 9 to go.

Day 6 – Mental Resilience

The physical challenge was matched by mental fatigue. Yet, stories shared on the trail — personal reasons for supporting Cancer Fund for Children — reignited purpose. Everyone carried their ‘why’ a little more visibly. Joined on Knockmealdown by Dillion Lynch, the fastest peron (at the time of writing) to summit the 26 county high points in a mere 49hours and 45mins…yes you read that right! The weather was back to wet, wet, wet but it did’t dampen team spirits we took on Mount Leinster (795m) Wexford/Carlow, Brandon hill (515m) Kilkenny and Knockmealdown (794m) in Waterford.

Day 7 – Quiet Determination

Not every day was dramatic. Some were simply about putting one foot in front of the other. These quieter moments revealed just how far the group had come, operating as a single, cohesive unit. The team continually rising to the challenge ahead, started the day with an impromptu dance to ‘I can see clearly now’ by Johnny Nash. The team undertook Galtymore (919m) Limerick/Tipperary before journeying to the infamous Priest leap pass to climb Knockboy (706m) Cork.

Day 8 – The Finish Line Comes Into View

Anticipation grew as the end approached. Energy returned, spirits lifted, and reflection began — on what had already been achieved and what it meant to finish together. Just 4 mountains remained between us and the finish line. Taking on Ireland’s highest mountain Carrauntoohil (1039m) Kerry we took a moment to pause and stand as one, before moving onto the lesser known Moylussa (532m) Clare. An epic drive took us up to Leenane were we rested for a mere few hours before the alarm would rise us up to take us to the finish line.

Day 9 – Completion, Together

The final summits were emotional, two big hitters Benbaun (729m) Galway and Mwellrea (814m) Mayo. Exhaustion mixed with pride, relief, and gratitude. The challenge was complete — but more importantly, it was completed as it had begun: together.

The People Behind the Peaks

Every participant arrived with a personal reason for taking part. Some had direct connections to childhood cancer; others were driven by a desire to make a meaningful difference. Those individual motivations became a shared strength.

The training phase played a vital role — not just in building mountain fitness, but in fostering trust, resilience, and team cohesion. By the time the first summit was reached, the group already understood one another. By the final summit, they had become something far stronger than a collection of individuals.

Reflection: Experience Matters

Delivering a challenge of this scale required more than ambition. Route planning, safe mountain leadership, fatigue management, and constant decision-making were critical every step of the way.

Stride’s role was to quietly enable the experience — providing structured training, professional mountain guides, and detailed logistical planning — so that participants could focus on the challenge, the team, and the cause.

The result was an event that balanced safety with adventure, structure with flexibility, and challenge with care.

Why It Mattered

26 Mountains to Mayo was never just about summits. It was about raising vital funds for Cancer Fund for Children (€1.5 million raised), about shared purpose (friendships forged), and about proving what can be achieved when people are prepared, supported, and united.

Nine days. One island. One cause. An experience that will be carried long after the mountains fade from view.