Tipperary dairy farmer's long walk for mental health awareness
A Co. Tipperary dairy farmer is undertaking a solo 550km walk of the entire Beara-Breifne Way, Ireland's longest inland trail from west Cork to Cavan in just over two weeks.
John Wallace is walking between 30km and 50km a day, embarking on the journey unsupported, carrying his own supplies and relying on the kindness of local communities for food and accommodation.
The fundraiser, titled 'Miles for Minds', is being undertaken ahead of the 10th anniversary of the passing of his father, William Wallace who died by suicide in 2015.
Wallace began the walk on Tuesday (August 5), with the hope of raising funds and awareness for mental health.
He said: "I'm hoping do the Beara-Briefne Way, from Castletownbear to Blacklion in Co. Cavan. It's 550km of a trail which has historical significance to it.
"It goes through my own farm which put it in my mind in the first place. I always wanted to do it, and if I ever did I said I'd raise money for mental health charities."
Wallace explained how farmers' mood is heavily dependent on the weather, with farmers' morale being particularly low from autumn 2023 until autumn 2024 due to the poor farming year.
He said: "In 2024 the mood in farming was very bad, and then in 2025 the mood was good. There's also a lot of external pressures and regulations as well.
"Farmer's don't often talk in time, it's a kind of solitary lifestyle and you're not meeting people."
The dairy farmer feels that people need to be more open about mental health and lift the stigma about not speaking.
Wallace worries that some farmers see it as a 'manly' thing not to speak, and try to carry the weight of the world and get on with it.
He said: "Farmers should talk to your neighbouring farmer, or a friend, or call any of the services I'm raising money for."
Wallace will donate all funds raised evenly between three mental health charities - Aware, Jigsaw, and Pieta House.
He stopped in Ballingeary yesterday (August 7), having walked over 100km. When asked how he was feeling so far, he said: "I'm finding it tough, but the body is starting to get used to it."
The Tipperary man is seeking overnight support in local towns and villages along the way, and is asking for the offer of a bed, shed, field, meal, or even a cup of tea near any of the towns he is passing through.
Full details of how to provide support, and donate to the fundraiser can be found on the 'Miles for Minds' idonate page.
So far Wallace has raised over €11,000 and donations can be made up until September 30.
