32 marathons in 32 days: Inspiring athlete completes Kilkenny stop on nationwide charity journey
Brendán O’Neill is running in every county to raise funds for Focus Ireland
The thought of running a single marathon is enough to put most of us out of breath, but 24-year-old Brendán O’Neill from Listowel, County Kerry is taking on the Herculean task of completing one in every county on consecutive days to raise funds for homeless charity Focus Ireland.
Brendán ticked off the 23rd stop on his journey at the Watershed on Thursday after completing a staggering 105 laps of the track during the roughly four and a half hour run in the sweltering heat, but although the conditions are arduous he enjoys testing the limits of what he can accomplish.
“I’ve always wanted to push myself both physically and mentally. When I set out to do this challenge it was never about the running, it was never about trying to boast about doing 32 marathons in 32 days, it was trying to see where my body can take me and just push myself every day,” he outlines.
The Brendán’s Run 32 campaign has raised nearly €10,000 for Focus Ireland and the fight against homelessness and the Kerryman has had a longstanding desire to contribute amidst the growing problem.
“When I first wanted to do this challenge back in 2022, there were only 10,000 homeless and since then it’s risen up to over 16,000 and it just shows how deep and urgent the crisis has become,” he says.
“While I don’t have a personal story or connection with homelessness, I’ve met so many people along the way who have experienced it before that have pushed me on further every single day,” he adds.
As if the original plan wasn’t difficult enough, Brendán has had to cope with multiple injuries and setbacks along the way, including a stress fracture in his femur and navicular bone in his foot just five days into the journey.
“It’s obviously heartbreaking to hear that news but I had two options. I could either get in the car and drive home or find another way and adapt, and that’s what we’ve done,” he reflects.
After three more marathons with the fracture, the pain became too intense for Brendán to continue running and he was forced to walk the next two. The pain still didn’t subside so after purchasing a bike in Sligo, he cycled for the next four stages and after daily consultation with physios, Brendán was eventually cleared to return to running.
“I’m back to where I should be and where I’m meant to be. I’m back running and we’ve completed six marathons in a row now. If it wasn’t for those injuries and setbacks, I 100% wouldn’t be as strong as I am today,” he asserts.
Brendán and his travelling companions including girlfriend Emma, have been sleeping in their cars to further put themselves in the shoes of the homeless people they’re raising money in aid of, and although the mental toll of having to get up and run 42.2km is huge, he’s determined to see out the last nine days of the campaign.
“There’s been so many ups and downs, I think the hardest part has literally just been starting. There’s been some mornings where I’ve woken up, looked at myself in the mirror and not recognised the person staring back,” Brendán says.
“There’s days where, driving from one county to another, I’ve been putting on my shoes and literally crying in the car because of the thought of completing another one, but it always goes back to who I’m doing it for. Some of these people don’t get an option,” he concludes.
After finishing the Kilkenny leg of the run, Brendán received a warm reception from a Watershed Nano Physiotherapy class where his fellow Kerryman Frank O’Donohue sang a rendition of the Boys of Barr na Sráide, a song from their native county.
Carlow is the next stop on Friday with the last leg to be completed in Listowel on the 23rd and donations can be made at Support Brendán’s Run 32 on iDonate.ie.