Bypass hero to walk Ireland for CUH

A triple-bypass survivor from Cork has set off on a gruelling 655km trek spanning the length of Ireland to thank the Leeside medical team that saved his life.

The mammoth north-south journey will take 65 year old Liam McCarthy and family friend Charlie Lillis a fortnight to complete, with an aim to raise €50,000 for the cardiac unit at CUH.

Liam, who ran the same route in his late 20s, said the care he received at CUH gave him a “second chance” at life.

With €6,000 already raised, Eugene and Charlie set off at 6am on Monday from Malin Head in Donegal on the 50km-a-day walk which will take in Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Clare, and Limerick, before the pair arrive back in their native Cork.

Liam, from Cork city’s southside, had never spent a night in hospital before chest pains two years ago prompted him to visit his GP, who arranged a stress test at CUH. An angiogram later revealed severe arterial blockages which consultants told him warranted a triple bypass.

The bypass was carried out successfully in late September 2024 at CUH, leaving an incredibly grateful Liam feeling compelled to repay the kindness and compassion of the hospital’s staff.

“I was down in recovery and looking at YouTube, thinking I can’t run that (Malin-Mizen) anymore, but I found these two young lads in the US and they were walking from Delaware to San Francisco,” said Liam.

He added: “I thought, ‘if they can do that, I can walk the length of Ireland’.”

Liam got talking to his buddy Charlie and before they knew it, the plan was on.

Liam said: “I want to give something back to CUH. I was back there for a test in June; I was coming down the stairs and I said, ‘This is where I start the ball rolling’, so I just walked into the CUH Charity office and told them what I wanted to do.”

As well as paying tribute to the brilliant CUH staff, Liam will also braving the challenge to honour his pal Mick Kelly, with whom he ran the exact same route in 1988, and who passed away last year.

A delivery driver with his brother’s firm McCarthy Meats, Liam also printed 1,000 business cards containing the QR code so customers can donate to the cause.

Crucially, Liam is also urging everyone to trust their gut when something does not feel right.

He warned: “If I didn’t go to my doctor that time, I could have been walking down Patrick’s Street and toppling over. I acted fast and I followed up on it.”

To support Liam and Charlie’s epic journey, visit idonate.ie/fundraiser/liammccarthy2.