‘For a small island, it has an enormous coastline': Timmy Mallett cycles 3,500 miles around Irish seaboard
The English broadcaster is best known for presenting roles on TV-am and the Wide Awake Club, as well as for his 1990 number one hit 'Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini'.
Recently, the 69-year-old has taken to the coastal roads of the island of Ireland, after circumnavigating all of Great Britain in 2023.
Having cycled all 905 miles around NI last year, he initially returned this year to tackle the Wild Atlantic Way. However, with bathroom renovations still ongoing at home, his wife encouraged him to tackle the whole of the island.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph at the Titanic Slipway — his starting point three months ago — Mallett said he was largely inspired by his late brother Martin, who passed away in 2018.
'I have two big brothers: Paul, the eldest, and Martin,' Mallett explained.
'Martin, with language and learning difficulties, never let Down's syndrome define him.
'You found that Martin would live every minute of the day in the moment, the here and now.
'I realised that with Martin, with his gift for living in the now, it was really important. He would say: 'Ah, buba, you and me. I'm happy.'
'So, this is a journey about inspiring people to reach their potential. We don't have to be the best yet, just the best that we can be.
'I am keen on curiosity. I think curiosity is a fine and fabulous attribute that we don't pay enough attention to.
'I like seeing what you can find on your own around the corner.
'I cycled round the coast of Waterford. I came to 'Norn Iron' to see if I could do a circumnavigation of it. Nine-hundred and five miles later, [I realised] it's an enormous country. That is when I heard a small voice: 'Don't forget the forgotten county' — Donegal, further north, which is weirdly in the South. So, I did another 550 miles covering the coast of Donegal, all those finger peninsulas.
'That is when I wondered if I could do some more, to go down the Wild Atlantic Way.
'Two months later, I go to Kinsale, and Mrs Mallett said: 'Well, I am doing the bathroom in the house... Why don't you just keep going to see how far around the rest of the country you can go?'
'That is what this moment [arriving at Titanic Slipway] is about, because I have now cycled around the entire coast of the island of Ireland. For a small island, it has an enormous coastline. It transpires that I have cycled over 3,500 miles. That's a lot of coastline.'
With such a famous face on the road, Mallett was stopped 'every kilometre, every day' by fans.
'It's a wonderful and joyful moment, because I make it a rule to always stop. I have found that this island... the Irish have a profound gift for kindness and generosity. There is a warmth of a welcome that is truly lovely.
'There is something special to somebody around these islands. Some highlights would include going to Blacksod Lighthouse in Co Mayo.
'There, I came across the grandson of Maureen Sweeney. In 1944, Maureen had been sending weather reports which she didn't know were crucial for the D-Day landings.
'Now, at the same time, my mum was working at the Supreme headquarters on the weather forecasting for D-Day.
'Maureen's grandson Fergus says that on that day, when she sent her weather forecast, a squeaky-voiced English lady picked up the phone to check the report.
'And I love the fact that these two women had a role in this titanic struggle of the time in D-Day.
'It was lovely to hear the other side of that story 80 years later. I think it has been an important pilgrimage.'
When asked about his transition from TV presenter to adventurer and painter, Mallett described his life as having 'different aspects'.
'I think that we all have different aspects in our lives, and talents can be important for us to develop.
'I've been lucky enough. I had a great TV career, I had a number one hit record throughout the world, and now my art is collected across the globe.
'The important thing really is to reach our potential, make the most of each and every day, and to bring a smile. Bring a smile with every mile.'
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