Killarney man Sean Clifford, better known locally as ‘Seanie Runner’, is currently attempting one of the toughest endurance challenges ever seen in Ireland by running the full 2,700km length of the Wild Atlantic Way.

He set off from Muff in Donegal on August 7 and plans to reach Kinsale, Cork, early next week.
The route takes in the full Atlantic coastline of Ireland and will require him to cover an average of 90 to 100 kilometres every day. If successful, he will complete the distance in just 27 days.

Mental health focus

Clifford is not chasing records for the sake of it. His run is aimed at raising awareness for mental health and the benefits of outdoor activity. He said before starting the challenge that his goal is to highlight the importance of exercise, fresh air, and community support when it comes to dealing with mental health struggles.
Throughout the month, he will share updates on his progress across social media, including Facebook pages where he is referred to as the ‘Crazy Kerry Man’ as well as through a documentary being filmed by Niall Foley. A live tracker also shows exactly where he is along the route. [https://live.primaltracking.com/waw2025/]

Donegal start

On the first day of the run, Clifford covered 103km from Muff to Malin. Strong winds and heavy weather made conditions difficult, but he completed the opening stage and reached Malin village by nightfall.
The route took him past Inishowen Head and Banba’s Crown at Malin Head, Donegal’s most northerly point, before finishing at his first planned stop. Clifford admitted he would have run further only for his crew stepping in to manage his schedule.

Across the coast

By this Friday, Clifford is expected to have completed the full Ring of Kerry section of the Wild Atlantic Way and be running in the direction of the Beara Peninsula, pushing through more than half of the entire route.
The challenge is being carried out on a solo basis, but Clifford has been receiving strong support from family, friends, and local communities who have turned out to cheer him along the way.
A film crew is following his journey to capture the highs and lows of the challenge. The documentary is set to show not just the physical effort involved but also the wider message of the importance of resilience, community spirit, and looking after mental health.

Support from Kerry

Clifford is already well-known in Kerry running circles, but this challenge is bringing his story to a national audience. His determination to complete the route and his willingness to use it to promote mental health awareness has been welcomed by many groups.

If he succeeds, Clifford will have covered more than 2,700 kilometres of coastline in under a month,the equivalent of running over 64 marathons back-to-back