'Something about the silence': Local man walking 280km from Kilkenny to Kerry for mental health

A man from Kilkenny is over halfway into a 280km trek to Kerry in an attempt to raise funds for mental health.

Andrew O’Farrell decided to walk from Kilkenny to Dingle after feeling as though he had been “stuck in a rut” for the past two years.

He had moved back in with his family and was in and out of jobs, so he decided now was the time to do something for himself.

Inspired by adventure athletes that he watches online, Andrew spent two months planning his journey before packing his bags and putting his boots on.

“I watch people like that, and I think it's really inspiring,” he explained.

When Andrew first began telling people about his plans, many doubted him, and he even had people laugh at him or tell him he was crazy.

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He started to doubt himself, thinking, “Maybe I won't be able to do it.”

He is now over halfway through the journey, and despite his feet being “broke up,” he’s really enjoying the walk.

“There's something about just being in the silence. I'm just with myself in my thoughts, preparing my next steps. Being by yourself and thinking about what you're doing out here has been so freeing and relaxing,” Andrew shared.

He is walking with a rucksack weighing about 20kg on his back, which contains a tent that he sets up in random fields throughout the country.

Originally, he had planned to sleep in campsites, but people have been reaching out offering him to sleep in their fields.

The goal was to complete the 280km in just ten days, but after a small setback, it’s looking more like two weeks now.

He had mapped out ten routes, with the first expected to take eight hours.

In reality, it actually took nine and a half, causing the delay.

“It left me so tired physically. My legs were in pain. So I had to cut down the past couple of days,” Andrew said.

He did do some training before trekking off, walking to and from Kilkenny City to Bennettsbridge and camping out there a couple of times.

Although it is only 12km, it helped him prepare for the journey that lay ahead.

Andrew is walking to Dingle as a way to challenge himself and push himself out of his comfort zone, while also raising funds for the mental health charity Pieta House.

You can donate by clicking the link here.

Andrew has been overwhelmed by the support so far, surpassing his goal of €500 already.

“I have such bad imposter syndrome right now. The way everyone reciprocated the post and the support I've got, I did not expect,” he said.

When asked whether he would be walking back from Dingle, Andrew replied, “There's no way I'm walking back. I will be getting the bus.”

You can follow along the rest of the journey to Dingle with Andrew by following him on social media, @Andrew O’Farrell on Facebook, and @andrew.ofarrell on Instagram.