Longford News, 16th September 2008

Saturday morning last was one of the best days of the entire summer and it was certainly welcomed by one group of Longfordians who really needed a decent day's weather. About twenty hardy souls headed off to Galway by bike, in memory of Shane Brennan and to raise much need funds for GOAL'S street children in Kenya. Already EUR40,00 has been raised for GOAL in memory of the late Shane Brennan and this has funded street childrens projects in Nairobi and Honduras as well as building a school in North Kenya.

The money raised from the cycle to Galway will also go to the street children's project in Nairobi.

The group would like to thank everyone who supported the effort in any way, from supplying fruit, chocolate bars, water to the professional help from the Longford Guards, including Garda John Connor in Mountbellew and Maura in Ballygar and the entire back- up team.

The exhausted but upbeat gang were welcomed to Galway by one of Ireland's most experienced aid-workers, Maura Lennon of GOAL who expressed her awe at the wonderful fundraising work carried out by the Brennan family and their friends.

The group who are already planning to cycle to Westport for next year despite aching limbs included : John and Christopher Coppinger, John Joe Brennan, James O Gara, Ron Glendenning, John Finucane, Cornie Bohan, Fergus Darcy, John Mahon, Johnny and Peter Nevin,Stephen Cassidy, Florrie Geelan, Pat Finnnerty, Niall Gannon, Billy Creevy, Emmet Ryan and Charlene Tyrrell.