Brothers cycling from Dublin to Leitrim in memory of their late father

Three brothers are undertaking a charity cycle this Saturday, August 12, from Dublin to Carrick-on-Shannon in memory of their late father, George O'Reilly, a native of Aughnasheelin.

Vinny, Derek and Damien O'Reilly have set up a gofundme page for The Irish Heart Foundation and have already raised almost €6,000 to date which they say they are blown away by.

“To mark the 1st anniversary of the passing of our dear dad George O'Reilly, on the 12th of August myself and my brothers Derek & Vinny are attempting to cycle from Dublin to Leitrim, where our dad was from, a distance of nearly 170km,” the gofundme page message reads.

The cycle is in aid of the Irish Heart Foundation.

“This was a trip we made many times over the years, and we have many fond memories of time spent together in Leitrim as a family. However this will be the first time that we've made this trip on bikes!

“In dad's memory, we’re raising money for the Irish Heart Foundation and every donation will help. So thank you in advance for your contribution to this worthy cause that means so much to us.”

The brothers estimate the route at approximately 170km.

“We are planning to leave Dublin at the crack of dawn. None of us are avid cyclists so we think it will take us most of the day, 8 or 9 hours,” said Vinny.

The family will celebrate George's first anniversary mass in Ballinamore on Sunday, morning, August 13.

A condolence message left by his brother Louis gives a good background into George and their Leitrim roots:

“George was the eldest of five in our family back in Aughnasheelin. He was the first to leave home and head for London in the early sixties.

The late George O'Reilly

“He returned to work in Dublin and set up a base in Marguerite Road, Glasnevin where Ethna first and then myself in 1965 joined him to start on our life's journey.

“He was a father figure and rock to us in those early days when money and jobs were hard to come by.

“The family home and farm in Aughnasheelin was sold in 1967 and the whole family moved to Tonlegee Road, Dublin where George had organised a 4b/r house big enough to cater for us all including Kathleen McKiernan who lived with us as well.

“George was a wonderful brother to us and son to his parents and set a great example for the rest of us to try and follow. He carried those same traits through to looking after his own immediate family also.

“George may you rest in eternal peace and thanks for all you did for all of us during your life.”

And the Leitrim link doesn't end there.

Their mother is also from Leitrim. She is Patricia Mitchell. Her mother was Brigid Keegan and they lived in Cloone before moving to Dublin.

They have lots of Keegan cousins down in Leitrim still, in Aughavas, Mohill and elsewhere.