Latest news with #Arklow-based
Irish Independent
17-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Wexford dairy farmer to run four marathons in four days
After previously fundraising for national charities by taking on Dublin and Waterford Marathons, Ferns resident Kenneth was motivated to select a local concern this year after learning about the vital work undertaken by Arklow-based East Coast Samaritans from his mother-in-law Olive, a long-serving volunteer with the charity. The Sliabh Buidhe Rovers Athletic Club member had already been plotting a grand adventure for 2025, and had set his sights on the ultra-challenging Quadrathon, a test of endurance that will see Kenneth run a separate route every day, completing a single 105-mile loop over four days, through hills, mountains and along coastal roads around Inishowen and the Wild Atlantic Way. Diligently preparing for the challenge, Kenneth said he feels an immense sense of pride to be raising funds for a local cause that is so close to his heart, adding that seeing donations come in will give him all the fuel he needs to push through the pain barrier. 'My mother-in-law, Olive, does volunteer work for East Coast Samaritans, answering calls at night, and after speaking to her and learning that they are the only Samaritans branch in the country who have to pay rent, I knew I had to fundraise for them,' Kenneth began. 'I usually raise money for the big, national charities, but when Olive told me about the great work that East Coast Samaritans do, and the fact that it's local, helping local people that are going through a bad time with their mental health, that clinched it for me. 'I suppose, like a lot of other people, you get into running for your mental health. It has helped me so much. So, for me to actually help raise money for a mental health charity, and maybe inspire others to take up running, exercise or getting outdoors for their mental health, that's massive for me. 'I've had a good few donations already, with some from friends and some from people I wouldn't even know, and I'll be giving updates every day during the Quadrathon – hopefully the donations will keep coming in,' he added. 'I know, when I'm up there running in the hills, just thinking about donations coming in and the difference that might make to someone's life will keep me going.' Unlike flat marathon courses, extreme north races require a little more endurance, with runners flocking to Donegal on August 14 encouraged to allow an extra 10pc on their normal marathon time to account for elevation and back-to-back runs. Having recently recovered from a lower back injury that cause bad sciatica, Kenneth has kicked into overdrive to prepare his body for the rigors of the challenge, ascending peaks like Sliabh Buí and seeking out mountainous terrain wherever he can find it as part of his pre-Quadrathon training regime. 'I am always up for a challenge, and I usually do the Dublin Marathon, and I was trying to get a sub-three-hour time, which I was delighted to get in Amsterdam,' Kenneth said. 'I came across the Quadrathon after I was scrolling through Facebook and saw that someone from the Wexford Marathon Club had done four marathons. So, I started researching it, and thought I'd love to do that. 'I applied for it, but then got unlucky when I got injured and had very bad sciatica. I was trying to work and couldn't really train, so I just did a bit of gym instead. I kept working at it, and I started back cycling. 'Now I'm back running, and things are going well. 'I've been doing a good few races just to get up to speed, and a lot of my long runs are hilly, because the marathons I'll be doing in Donegal are not like Waterford or Dublin,' he continued. 'They're up in the hills along the Atlantic Way and you could be climbing for two miles, so you have to prepare the body for that. 'I did the Glendalough Lap of the Gap Marathon last year, which was a challenging one because it's very hilly, but it was good practice. 'You're running four marathons, so you need to be able for that high mileage and basically get the body used to being under pressure and running on tired legs. Even if I was going for a recovery run, I'll find a few hills to go up, just to keep the body under pressure. 'It's nice to have something to work towards, and it's a challenge for me, which I love – so it's a win-win.' You can support Kenneth via
Irish Independent
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Arklow table tennis ace bridges 15-year gap to last title
And it's not any old title, either, but one that traces its history back to the 1940s. Fair to say Arklow-based table-tennis player Erwin de Zwarte can take a well-earned bow. de Zwarte was already a three-time champion in the Open Singles competition at the Bray and District Table Tennis Championships three times, so he is certainly a local legend of the sport, but with his last title claimed well back in 2010, the chances of winning for a fourth time may have looked remote to casual observers. But de Zwarte, who plays for Carrickmines-based Wayside Table Tennis Club, rolled back the years in the most comprehensive manner possible; not only did he win the Open Singles title, he bagged two more to go with it. 'I managed to reach the finals as well two years ago, but I lost 3-2,' he told The Wicklow People and The Bray People. 'Every now and then, however, you have one of those nights when everything comes together.' And what a night it was. Beating club colleague Seán Woods in a deciding set – a set he won 11-8 from 5-8 down – would have been reward enough. But on a night dominated by Wayside, he paired with Woods to take the Men's Doubles title. Furthermore, he combined with Arklow's Ilona Siuda – the only non-Wayside player involved on finals night – to claim the Mixed Doubles crown. Not bad for someone who started playing table tennis in his native Rotterdam almost 50 years ago.
Irish Independent
08-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Co Wicklow cycling club hosts quiz night for epic charity challenge
Played in good spirits but with a competitive edge, the quiz drew crowds from far and wide, with a raffle and plenty of spot prizes raising more than €1,200 towards South East Road Club's fundraising efforts. On May 17, the Arklow-based club will embark on a cycle challenge in aid of Arklow RNLI that will see club members traverses the country, starting at the RNLI Arklow station and cycling to Limerick, with riders making the return journey the following day. As part of the broader fundraiser, the club has also raised €2,370 via their GoFundMe page and will host a spin-a-thon at the Bridgewater Shopping Centre this Saturday, May 10, from 10 am to 4 pm. Delighted with the turnout at the Old Ship, Sinead Rock from South East Road Club said: 'We made €880 from the quiz, and the rest of the over €1,200 on the raffle, which puts us over the €3,000 mark now in total – and we're delighted with that. 'A big thanks to the Old Ship and all the local businesses and individuals who donated prizes for the night, which there were a lot of. 'For a seaside town like Arklow with strong links to maritime activity, the community is and has been very reliant on the RNLI and the excellent commitment of their volunteers and crew who provide such a vital service for the town and local coastal area. 'South East Road Club is delighted to be supporting the RNLI and hopes that the local community will also show their support in the run up to the big event on May 17.' To support South East Road Club's fundraiser, visit
