Cork man back on the road to Mt Everest

An unstoppable Cork man is back in the saddle today on a 12,000km cycle from Leeside to Mount Everest after monsoon conditions scuppered his mission in July.

Having first set off in February, Daragh Cronin, 24, was devastated when he was forced to abandon the mammoth trek in Mumbai and return to his native Cork after a gruelling 143 days on his bike.

But today, Thursday, sees the avid hurler from Blackrock fly out from Dublin to finish what he started – facing into a 2,500km cycle across India and into Nepal.

Once he reaches the foot of the world’s highest mountain, he plans to put his bike over his shoulder and hike up to Everest base camp, over 5,000m above sea level, in a first for an Irish citizen.

Part of his training has involved carrying his bike up and down Carrauntoohil in Kerry – Ireland’s highest peak.

Project Blackrock to Basecamp aims to raise at least €30,000 via for CUH Charity, to go to the children’s wards at CUH.

“Every day, my vision is seeing myself at that base camp rock having done the thing. Every decision I’ve made has revolved around it,” said Daragh.

After facing the heartbreak of having to turn back in July after making it so far, Daragh says he’s nervous about going out again.

“That day in Mumbai broke me. You battle hundreds of times in your mind to get closer to your goal and that was one of the lowest moments of my life, rain bellowing down, it was brutal,” he said.

“The thought of going back to that exact spot and passing that road where it went belly up, is scary. There is a bit of fear and nerves, but I’ll never let that stop me,” Daragh added.

Once he arrives, Daragh will set off again the very point where raging weather forced him off the road and hopes to complete the mission by mid-December.

Because he had shared so much of his initial journey across Europe and the Middle East on social media, Daragh said being forced to abandon the effort was a highly public setback.

He said: “And in light of all the disasters that have happened since in Nepal and India, I had people texting me on Instagram, saying if there is a God out there, he’s looking after you in making that decision to go back.

“I’m hoping to go out and appreciate the chaos and the beauty of India and Nepal, seeing the Himalayas and Everest, it’s something I’ve seen in my head for years.

“The goal is to show that the most ordinary person can go out and achieve the extraordinary. Don’t let setbacks define you.”

Daragh said the “phenomenal” backing from people and businesses back home has kept him going and asks the public to support his effort at idonate.ie/roaminwithcronin.