Latest news with #JohnWallace
Agriland
08-08-2025
- Health
- Agriland
Tipperary dairy farmer's long walk for mental health awareness
A Co. Tipperary dairy farmer is undertaking a solo 550km walk of the entire Beara-Breifne Way, Ireland's longest inland trail from west Cork to Cavan in just over two weeks. John Wallace is walking between 30km and 50km a day, embarking on the journey unsupported, carrying his own supplies and relying on the kindness of local communities for food and accommodation. The fundraiser, titled 'Miles for Minds', is being undertaken ahead of the 10th anniversary of the passing of his father, William Wallace who died by suicide in 2015. Source: milesforminds2025 Instagram Wallace began the walk on Tuesday (August 5), with the hope of raising funds and awareness for mental health. He said: "I'm hoping do the Beara-Briefne Way, from Castletownbear to Blacklion in Co. Cavan. It's 550km of a trail which has historical significance to it. "It goes through my own farm which put it in my mind in the first place. I always wanted to do it, and if I ever did I said I'd raise money for mental health charities." Wallace explained how farmers' mood is heavily dependent on the weather, with farmers' morale being particularly low from autumn 2023 until autumn 2024 due to the poor farming year. He said: "In 2024 the mood in farming was very bad, and then in 2025 the mood was good. There's also a lot of external pressures and regulations as well. "Farmer's don't often talk in time, it's a kind of solitary lifestyle and you're not meeting people." The dairy farmer feels that people need to be more open about mental health and lift the stigma about not speaking. Wallace worries that some farmers see it as a 'manly' thing not to speak, and try to carry the weight of the world and get on with it. He said: "Farmers should talk to your neighbouring farmer, or a friend, or call any of the services I'm raising money for." Wallace will donate all funds raised evenly between three mental health charities - Aware, Jigsaw, and Pieta House. He stopped in Ballingeary yesterday (August 7), having walked over 100km. When asked how he was feeling so far, he said: "I'm finding it tough, but the body is starting to get used to it." Source: John Wallace The Tipperary man is seeking overnight support in local towns and villages along the way, and is asking for the offer of a bed, shed, field, meal, or even a cup of tea near any of the towns he is passing through. Full details of how to provide support, and donate to the fundraiser can be found on the 'Miles for Minds' idonate page. So far Wallace has raised over €11,000 and donations can be made up until September 30.
Belfast Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Two Co Donegal men seriously injured in Australian construction site accident
John Wallace and Caolan Ward, both from Dungloe, were working on the site in Perth on Saturday last when the incident happened. It is understood the men were working on the site when a vehicle they were using was struck by another large piece of machinery. Both were rushed to hospital but both are said to be now recovering from their injuries. However, friends say "they have a long road ahead as they focus on their rehabilitation." News Catch Up - Thursday 15 May Mr Wallace and Mr Ward are both from well-known families in the Dungloe area. Family of both men are now on their way to Australia to be with the young men. In response to the incident, a friend of the pair has now launched a Go Fund Me page. Organiser Ryan Connors said all money will go directly to the men's families. Ryan said: 'Funds raised will go directly towards easing the financial burden that comes with an accident of this scale - including helping family members travel to be with them in Australia, covering accommodation and living expenses, and supporting the lads as they recover and eventually get back on their feet. 'There's no set fundraising target at this point, as the full extent of their recovery needs and associated costs is still unknown. Our focus right now is on ensuring their families can be by their side and that any immediate expenses are covered.' More than €22,000 has now been raised since the fundraiser was launched just a couple of days ago. Ryan added 'Every donation, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference and is deeply appreciated by John, Caolan, and their families.'
Irish Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
Two Irishmen seriously injured after incident in Australia
Two young Co Donegal men have been hospitalised with serious injuries after a construction site accident in Australia. John Wallace and Caolan Ward, both from Dungloe, were working on the site in Perth on Saturday last when the incident happened. It is understood the men were working on the site when a vehicle they were using was struck by another large piece of machinery. Both were rushed to hospital but both are said to be now recovering from their injuries. However, friends say "they have a long road ahead as they focus on their rehabilitation." Mr Wallace and Mr Ward are both from well-known families in the Dungloe area. Family members of both men are now on their way to Australia to be with the pair. In response to the incident, a friend of the pair has now launched a Go Fund Me page Organiser Ryan Connors said all money will go directly to the families of both men. Ryan said: 'Funds raised will go directly towards easing the financial burden that comes with an accident of this scale - including helping family members travel to be with them in Australia, covering accommodation and living expenses, and supporting the lads as they recover and eventually get back on their feet. 'There's no set fundraising target at this point, as the full extent of their recovery needs and associated costs is still unknown. Our focus right now is on ensuring their families can be by their side and that any immediate expenses are covered.' More than €22,000 has now been raised since the fundraiser was launched just a couple of days ago. Ryan added 'Every donation, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference and is deeply appreciated by John, Caolan, and their families.' If you would like to donate please see the link
Sunday World
15-05-2025
- General
- Sunday World
Two young Irishmen men seriously injured in construction site accident
John Wallace and Caolan Ward, both from Dungloe, were working on the site in Perth Two young Co Donegal men have been hospitalised with serious injuries after a construction site accident in Australia. John Wallace and Caolan Ward, both from Dungloe, were working on the site in Perth on Saturday last when the incident happened. It is understood the men were working on the site when a vehicle they were using was struck by another large piece of machinery. Both were rushed to hospital but both are said to be now recovering from their injuries. However, friends say "they have a long road ahead as they focus on their rehabilitation." Mr Wallace and Mr Ward are both from well-known families in the Dungloe area. Family of both men are now on their way to Australia to be with the young men. In response to the incident, a friend of the pair has now launched a Go Fund Me Page Organiser Ryan Connors said all money will go directly to the men's families. Ryan said: 'Funds raised will go directly towards easing the financial burden that comes with an accident of this scale - including helping family members travel to be with them in Australia, covering accommodation and living expenses, and supporting the lads as they recover and eventually get back on their feet. 'There's no set fundraising target at this point, as the full extent of their recovery needs and associated costs is still unknown. Our focus right now is on ensuring their families can be by their side and that any immediate expenses are covered.' More than €22,000 has now been raised since the fundraiser was launched just a couple of days ago. Ryan added 'Every donation, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference and is deeply appreciated by John, Caolan, and their families.' If you would like to donate please see the link
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Yahoo
Pilgrims arrive at Holy Island carrying wooden crosses
A GROUP of weary pilgrims, which included members who set off from Carlisle on Saturday (April 12), arrived at their intended destination on Good Friday. There were two legs of the annual Northern Cross pilgrimage, one from Carlisle and the other from Lanark in Scotland, and during the trek they carried wooden crosses to symbolise the meaning of Easter. On the whole the weather was kind to the Carlisle group, apart from at one point during the midweek, but when they finally set foot on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, after crossing the causeway during low tide, it was a lot kinder. One of the organisers John Wallace, who was helping with the Carlisle leg and is from Twickenham in London, said he was pleased to have reached the end of the journey. When asked about how he felt about reaching the end of the journey he said he was delighted to have managed it all the way. He added: 'I was on foot every step of the way from Carlisle.' He said that the highlight of the trip was the 'amazing for hospitality in many of the places we stopped'. He added: 'I don't know how many we had altogether, I haven't counted but we must have been at about five or six places, where we stopped, where people prepared a meal for us and were very hospitable." And, regarding the low points, he said, when they revised the route it worked very well for the first part and then they discovered that during the second part, which was a marked right of way, it was heather up to their thighs and it was 'extremely difficult'. He said that, at one point, the weather was so bad that they ended up completely soaked. Fellow member Mark Attwood, who lives just north of Carlisle, said he felt it was not quite the end of the journey and added: 'I'm not sure how it feels.' He said the high point of the journey was about more about 'being with people that are joy to be with' and 'people that that feel like a stone in your shoe'. And he said that the low point was 'probably ending a great journey'. Richard Morris, who is from Gloucestershire, felt it was 'absolutely great' to reach the end of the trek and added: 'We've been building up to it for a week and there were lots of hills and all sorts of experiences. So to arrive here on a Holy Island is really good.' Regarding the high point he said: 'I think the destination is good. The journey is good. The company of Christians is good but it's great sharing the good news, you know, especially as we can ourselves as good news people in a bad news world.' He agreed that that the low point was the bad weather and added: 'I think it was Wednesday when the weather was really bad. 'It was lashing with rain. It was cold and miserable. And then we went across a moor where there wasn't actually a path so we were clambering over heather. 'We saw all sorts of things. It was almost worldly when you saw the mosses that were growing. It was quite unbelievable, but we survived and we did well.' According to the Northern Cross website participants 'bear witness to the passion, death and resurrection of Christ' and that carrying a cross is a very symbolic act at this time of year. Hosts of the participants during the event include Anglican, Catholic, Church of Scotland, Methodist and Baptist members. It states: 'On the other side Northern Cross gives us a chance to get away from the world – a retreat – in beautiful countryside, in the open air away from the daily grind, television and newspapers; a chance to think and reflect; a chance to share in a small Christian community for a week.'
