Dragon group climb 8th highest peak in Ireland for hospice

A GROUP of walkers travelled to Kerry to pull on their hiking boots and climb one of the highest peaks in Ireland in aid of a hospice and palliate care service, raising some €10,000 in the process.

Mick Healy, a popular figure in Tallaght distinct for having the nickname ‘Baldy’ despite his full mop of hair, organised the trip to raise funds for the Kerry Hospice Foundation, a facility close to his heart.

Customers from The Dragon Inn, around 40 in total, took part in the three-day trip over the May Bank Holiday weekend which culminated in summiting Mount Brandon in Dingle.

“Ah we had a ball we had,” Baldy tells The Echo.

“The walk was like Mount Everest, it was much harder than we thought.

“I’m still knackered from it, it took us about three/four hours to get up and down.

The group at the top of Mount Brandon

“There was 70 that did it overall including the group from Kerry, but there was more Dubs than there was Kerry, there was 40 Dubs.

“It was amazing, the support we got for it was amazing, even down there we were so well looked after, and it was all for a great cause.”

Last year, a group from The Dragon Inn started going on regular walks and it has gained momentum ever since, with a new face showing up nearly every week since then.

A few times a week they complete the 17.5km walk of the Hellfire Club and Massy’s Estate.

John, Chris and Bobby Keeley on the Dragon walk at Mount Brandon

Baldy, who is 64, is a key member of the walking group.

While Mick grew up in St Maelruan’s estate, attending St Mary’ National School, his mother was originally from Kerry.

Around 10-years-ago, Mick’s cousin Brendon McEvoy died but he had been “looked after” by the crew in the Kerry Hospice Foundation.

This is how the expedition up Mt Brandon, the 952m mountain, which is the eighth highest peak in Ireland, in aid of Kerry Hospice and Palliative Care came about.

And this is only the beginning.

“Next year, the Kerry crew are going to come up here and the money raised will go to Suzanne House,” Baldy explains.

“I’m thinking the Hellfire and Lord Massy’s.

“See Mount Brandon was so difficult, the kids couldn’t really do it.

“But the kids can do the Hellfire and Lord Massy’s.

“This is only the beginning.”

In the meantime, Baldy and co are organising a benefit night in aid of Suzanne House on Saturday, May 20 in The Dragon Inn.

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