Car dealers go around Ireland on a jet ski

TWO Clare businessmen have confirmed plans to circumnavigate Ireland on jet-skis to raise funds for the Clare Tipperary and Limerick branch of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland (CFAI) and hopefully create a new world record at the same time.

Ennis car dealers Darren Hayes and Liam Cleary will set off from Lahinch and are confident of jet-skiing around Ireland in under a week.
Both men, who are avid jet-skiers, have been in training in recent months for the event and have undergone a training course with an instructor from the UK. The pair, who operate separate businesses in Ennis, are confident that they can complete the challenge.
Several attempts have been made to travel around the Irish coastline in RIB’s (rigid inflatable boats), with one person completing the challenge some years ago in 21 days.
It is hoped, however, that Mr Hayes and Mr Cleary will complete this event in under a week and set a new world record. The pair expect to spend up to 10 hours a day riding the waves off the Irish coast under the watchful eye of their safety team.
“I had done a 100-mile cycle for CF before and was looking for another challenge. I met Seamus Clancy (former Clare footballer) and I mentioned to him that we wanted to do something else for CF and we came up with this idea.
“We had toyed with just going from Malin Head to Loop Head but it developed from there,” Darren said. He will also undertake a 250-mile charity cycle later this month.
The men and their water and land-based support teams will leave Lahinch on Sunday, June 6 and will stop off in Galway for the night. The pair have already been in contact with the organisers of a week-long maritime festival, which will be held in the city that week.
As many as 300,000 people are expected to visit Galway where the 2010 Round Ireland Offshore Powerboat Race will also make a stop.
“This is going to be a serious challenge. Physically, we are well able for it but mentally, we know it will be tough. It will be hard to keep the mind focused when all you can see is wave after wave,” Darren added.
From Galway, the pair will travel to Killybegs in Donegal on the Monday (June 7) and on to Bangor, Down on the Tuesday. Following a rest day on Wednesday, the two men will travel south to Waterford, where they will take another break before continuing on to Fenit on Friday.
The challenge will finish back in Galway, with the pair hoping to make stops at Kilkee and Lahinch en route. Personnel will also be on hand at all the stops to collect funds for the charity.
Half the money raised will be forwarded to the national CF organisation, while the remaining cash will go to the association in Clare, Tipperary and Limerick, which is involved in a drive to collect €4.2 million to construct an in-patient and out-patient facility at the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Dooradoyle in Limerick.