Paddy Kelly is from Doonbeg, County Clare.
Today he's a long way from the Banner County.
But he is set to to complete his journey of a long way across America.
Paddy has been cycling across America in recent weeks raising funds for charity. His route has been from west to east and in the lower tier of the United States.
"The cycle started in ocean beach in San Diego on the 19th of September and I am expecting to be in St Augustine in Florida in 35 days," said Paddy.
That could well be today, Friday.
"I am doing this cycle for two charities, Sláinte an Chlair is the first one. It’s a County Clare-based charity and they look after people who have been diagnosed and people in recovery from cancer and also bring them to Dublin, Galway, Limerick, and Cork hospitals for their treatments.
"The second charity is for Hugh’s House in Dublin, around the corner from Temple Street Hospital. It provides free accommodation for the parents of sick children for the duration of their stay in hospital."
Paddy is now 68 and clearly in great shape.
There are reasons for this. He has run ten marathons in his younger days, five in Dublin, two in Cork, one in New York, and one each in Boston and London. Most had a charity component.
"A group of 20 of us went to base camp in Everest in 2012 for a hospice in Ennis, County Clare. I cycled from Boston to New York in 2019 and did the five borough tour of New York on the last day.
"I cycled around Ireland in 2020 to honor a friend of mine who died from cancer, it was 2500 kilometres in 19 days and collected seventy five thousand for cancer. I cycled the length of Portugal the N2 cycle in 2022 for prevention of Suicide. I cycled in France for a week in 2023 with Cooperation Ireland.
I cycled Land's End to John O Groats in 2024, Mizen Head to Malin Head in 2025, and now I am going across America in 2026."
The Echo intends asking Paddy what he does to relax - but only between the end of his American journey and what he is planning next.
Donations can be made to Paddy Kelly's charitable causes at https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/11665013.
