Derry Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign welcome Mizen to Malin Cyclists to city

Having completed their 500-mile charity cycle from Mizen Head in County Cork to Malin Head in County Donegal, Aaron Horlock and Fergal Nesbitt finished up in Derry.

The lads, who live in London, were raising money for  Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) - a British charity which offers medical services in the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon, and advocates for Palestinians’ rights to health and dignity.

Aaron, Fergal, Fergal’s dad Mark - the support driver - and Seamus the dog, were warmly welcomed to the city by members of the Derry - Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (DIPSC) - Annamarie O’Connell, Denise Walsh and Catherine Hutton. 

No strangers to long distance cycling, Traditional musicians Aaron and Fergal cycled the 874 miles from Land’s End in Cornwall to John O’Groats in Scotland last year, raising more than £6500, also for MAP.

Catherine, the chairperson of DIPSC congratulated them for having already raised a “fantastic” £6,500 for MAP. Their total has climbed to £8,088 since then; they are still accepting donations and are hoping to hit their £10,000 soon. 

Speaking to The Derry News, Fergal described the current situation in Gaza as "horrendous".

“We feel so powerless and even when you think, ‘What is £10,000 worth of aid going to do if aid can’t even get through?’ it just felt like the obvious thing to do,” said Fergal. 

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Aaron said after spending the winter in London he started to get “itchy feet”.

“And watching the news, we knew that the need to raise money for MAP was still there, so we decided to take on the Mizen to Malin challenge,” he added. 

“We got great support from members of the public throughout the cycle. I would like to give a special mention to the vigil group in Listowel in County Kerry. They were beautiful. They came out and met us. Every Tuesday they stand in the Square in Listowel.

“The high points were a session in Kinvara in County Galway which was really, really lovely and just seeing the scenery - cycling through some really beautiful places and towns that we hear about all the time in songs,” said Aaron.

Donations to the lads’ online fundraiser can be made at, Aaron and Fergal cycle Mizen Head - Malin Head:  https://www.justgiving.com/page/aaron-horlock-6?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=015