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Brian’s taking on toughest foot race on Earth

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By Michelle Crean

With searing temperatures of up to 50 degrees in the Sahara Desert - local fitness expert Brian Foley is planning to take on what is regarded as the toughest foot race on Earth.

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Brian, who runs Activate Fitness on the Ballycasheen Road, is currently putting in hours of gruelling training every week for the six day 251km Marathon Des Sables event.

He's heading off on April 20, starting the ultra marathon the next day.

This multi-day race is held every year in southern Morocco with the longest single stage 91km.

"It’s roughly six marathons in six days in the desert, around 50° heat at the height of the day and around 5° at night," Brian, who writes a regular fitness column for the Killarney Advertiser, said.

The race is self supported, so he'll be carrying everything except water which is supplied.

"It's a big undertaking. I plan to have around 10kg weight on my back."

Brian set up 'Marathons for the Mind' as he wanted to help raise awareness of mental health issues and to raise funds for the vital services that some amazing mental health charities provide. So far he has raised just under €2,000 of his €5,000 target.

"The whole idea came about eight years ago when I was chatting to a girl in Australia. I did an ultramarathon on the Great Ocean Road. Then between lockdowns and having our first child last year it spurred me on a bit."

January 2022 was the beginning of the gruelling plan as Brian registered for the challenge.

"I threw my hat in the ring then but it's the last five to six months that the training ramped up. I'm doing nearly 200kms a week on The Kerry Way, Rossbeigh and Banna."

He also explained that he's building his time up to four to five hours a day in the sauna to help get his body ready for the temperature in the desert.

"This might be my last big adventure," Brian, who is due his second child this August with his wife Roisin, added.

They're holding a table quiz next Wednesday night in the Brehon at 7.30pm.

It’s €40 for a table of 4 with of plenty spot prizes on the night.

To follow Brian's journey go to Instagram: 'Marathons for the Mind'.

To make a donation go to GoFundMe: Mental Health Charities (Pieta & YSPI).

 

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Chamber pays tribute to late Dick Henggeler

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has expressed condolences following the death of Dick Henggeler, the well-known owner of The Rose Hotel in Tralee. Mr Henggeler passed away peacefully at […]

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Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has expressed condolences following the death of Dick Henggeler, the well-known owner of The Rose Hotel in Tralee.

Mr Henggeler passed away peacefully at his home in Baltimore, USA surrounded by his Aghadoe-born wife Eibhlin (née Moriarty), their son Franz, and other family members.
Dick and Eibhlin purchased The Rose Hotel in 2015 in tribute to their late daughter Dorothy, who represented Washington DC in the 2011 Rose of Tralee Festival.
The Chamber said Mr Henggeler would be remembered for his warmth, good nature and positive approach, as well as for being a forward-thinking and knowledgeable businessman.
“He knew how to run a good hotel and that was and still is very obvious at The Rose Hotel, which is a great success story,” the Chamber said.
It added that continuity of ownership will remain in place, with Eibhlin, Franz, daughter-in-law Amber, and grandchildren Conrad and Rowan continuing to honour Dick’s legacy and vision for the hotel.
“Dick took enormous personal pride in Tralee and all of Kerry and he was always available to generously support any community initiative or endeavour undertaken in Killarney,” the Chamber said.
“He will be greatly missed by all that knew him but he leaves a wonderful legacy.”

He will repose at O’Shea’s Funeral Home, Killarney, on Friday (October 17), from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. The funeral will arrive at St Mary’s Cathedral on Saturday morning at 10:00am for Requiem Mass at 10:30am, with burial afterwards in Aghadoe Cemetery. The Requiem Mass will be live streamed at https://www.churchservices.tv/killarneycathedral.

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Beaufort Film Night returns with French drama-comedy

Beaufort Film Night will return on Friday (October 17) at Cullina National School, with a screening of the French drama-comedy The Marching Band. The film tells the story of Thibaut, […]

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Beaufort Film Night will return on Friday (October 17) at Cullina National School, with a screening of the French drama-comedy The Marching Band.

The film tells the story of Thibaut, a successful conductor recently diagnosed with leukaemia. A search for a bone marrow donor reveals that he was adopted and has a brother, Jimmy, a cafeteria worker.
The two meet, discover a shared love of music, and form a strong bond through an unexpected collaboration with Jimmy’s workplace band.
The Marching Band (French title En Fanfare) will screen at 8.30pm. Admission is €7, cash only, and will cover the motion picture licence fee.
The film has a 12A rating and is in French with English subtitles.
Beaufort Film Night is a non-profit community group that screens cultural English and international films that usually do not receive general release in Kerry.
The event is supported by Kerry County Council Arts Office and Access Cinema. Cullina National School is providing the venue.
Further details are available on Beaufort Film Night’s Facebook page @BeaufortFilmNight.

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