Clondalkin globetrotter Barry plans to build a school for the blind in Uganda
By Maurice Garvey
A CLONDALKIN globetrotter currently in the middle of a bus journey from Cairo to Cape Town – plans to build a school for blind children in Uganda.
Barry Denton (31), owner of travel blog CanSeeItAll.com, is creating a YouTube documentary of his adventures.
The former Moyle Park College student got the travelling bug in his late teens, visiting European countries with friends.
After completing a bus journey from the southern tip of Argentina to Colombia when he was 22, he hasn’t looked back.
Already, he has visited 70 countries in four continents, but the plan is to visit 100 countries by the time he turns 35.
“Recently I’ve been thinking of going to every country in the world, so let’s say I won’t be putting away my backpack any time soon,” said Barry.
“I am currently in Malawi, the third poorest country in the world. While it may be one of the poorest places on the planet, they are rich in spirit and always greet you with a smile. This country is the real Africa I set out to see, music on the streets filled with happy African people.”
Barry started the Cairo to Cape Town trip in April and cut the travel time down from six to five months, to ensure his Macedonian girlfriend receives her holiday visa to Ireland.
He continued: “It is a challenge to get it done in such a short space of time as African transportation is quite slow and unpredictable. My girlfriend just had her visa approved to visit Ireland, after the first one was rejected, so best to get home before they change their minds!
“I will return to Ireland in September with my girlfriend where we will go backpacking in some of the most beautiful islands on the planet, Connemara, Kerry and Donegal being my favourites.”
Once back home, Barry hopes to work on his plans to build a school for blind children in Kabale, Uganda.
“I will set up a charity to raise the money, then return with a group of self-funded volunteers to ensure the school is finished in late 2018 or early 2019.
“Over the coming years I am planning to go on self-funded trips through Caribbean, Central America, Middle East, Asia, Oceania and eventually West Africa to satisfy my love for exploring the world.
It hasn’t been all plain sailing in foreign soil, after Barry got violently sick in Somalia for three days, and a dose of malaria in Uganda.
He continued: “It was pretty scary at first, but I got to it just in time with the help of a great African doctor. Many days I look at a map of the world and think ‘what am I doing in the middle of Africa’ but then again would I rather be here, than stuck in an office like I was last year, worrying about things that had no personal meaning to me.”
Barry aims to complete his YouTube documentary by Christmas and publish his journey on his social media channels.
Follow Barry’s journey at https://www.facebook.com/CanSeeItAll/
