Join two Irishmen as they take 600k run for charity through Offaly

Two Irishmen based in Australia will begin a mammoth 600km run the length of Ireland for charity in late May.

Barry Lee from Bomany, Newmills, just outside of Letterkenny, and Bill Staunton from Balbriggin, Dublin, will be running from Mizen Head to Malin Head in just 10 days, all in support of men’s mental health and Pieta House.

Both are currently living in the beachside suburb of Maroubra, Sydney, and they will be beginning on Thursday, May 29 at Mizen Head, before ploughing straight through to Saturday, June 7 at Malin, running up to 57k a day.

They will run through Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Offaly, Westmeath, Longford, Leitrim, Cavan, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry before coming into Donegal at Muff and working their way in through mid-Inishowen on the final day through Lemacrossan, Glentogher, Carndonagh, Malin, Ballyheeney and onto Malin Head.

“We’re flying from Sydney to take on this challenge,” says Barry, 29. “We’re training day and night - 12 weeks left now - for the event and we’re hoping to raise money and, even more importantly, to raise awareness of men’s mental health.”

A frequent marathon runner, Barry completed an amazing uninterrupted 126km distance - the equivalent of three marathons - around Centennial Park in Sydney over 20 hours last year for the Irish Heart Foundation.

Bill had never run anything near that and leisurely helped Barry get underway at Centennial with 20k and then rejoined him in the afternoon for the final 50k.

“I was late to the scene with running,” Bill says. “It was only really when I came to Australia I took it up to keep myself active.”

“For Bill to join in and do 70k when he had never done a marathon, was unheard of,” Barry replies. “He just ran casually and helped me home. Unreal. Running in Ireland will be a lot different with potholes and plenty of wind and rain and hills!”.

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Like many great duos, the pair laugh as they recall the time they met at the Sydney Races, with Bill being a friend of Austin, who is Barry’s brother. Both have been in Australia for two years now and May will be their first trip home.

Bill, 27, is a Dublin City University Business and Finance graduate and currently works in construction in Sydney. As well as having lined out for his local GAA club, O'Dwyers, he is an accomplished sailor, having competed at both world and European level for Ireland, before making the move.

Barry is a mental health nurse at a private clinic in Chatswood having trained at Letterkenny Institute of Technology - now ATU Donegal - where he graduated from in 2018. He is the son of Ballyshannon native Jarlath Lee, who recently retired from Letterkenny Post Office and wore the black and amber bib of Letterkenny AC, and Anne Marie, who is originally from Derry.

Both Jarlath and Austin cycled the length of Ireland in 2013 and this time they’ll be there to cheer Barry and Bill on.

Bill says: “Anyone who would like to join us for 5k, 10k, 20k, a day or whatever is more than welcome to. We’d love to see you. At the minute, we’ve a support officer so we’re on the lookout for campervans and other support and have appearances planned with Pieta when we get home.”

“In June 2025, Bill and Barry, currently living in Sydney, will return home to Ireland to run the length of the country – 600km from Mizen Head to Malin Head – in just 10 days,” their GoFundMe, which you can donate to here, titled ‘The Wild Irish Run, Mental Health Ireland - Mizen to Malin,’ reads.

“This incredible journey is not only a personal challenge but a powerful statement in support of men’s mental health.

“Every year, over 600,000 people worldwide lose their lives to suicide, with 70% of them being men. These statistics are a stark reminder of the mental health crisis we face, and it's time to make a change.

“There’s great work being done in Ireland for men’s mental health, however, there’s work to be done. We’re doing this run for those who can’t, to raise awareness, spark conversation, and show that it's okay to talk, to seek help, and to be heard.

“We invite you to join us on this journey—whether it’s supporting us along the way, raising awareness in your community, or simply spreading the word. Together, we can make a difference. Mizen to Malin – 600 in 10 Days. Let’s do it for those who can’t.”

May 29th Day 1
Mizen Head- Balerycove (2.2km), Goleen (9.2km ), Toormore (15km), Mulroe (28km), Bantry (41km), Donemark (44km), Kealkill (51km) - First day will finish up just outside Kealkill

May 30th Day 2
Just outside Kealkill, - Ballingeary (18km) - Cahir (Cork 22 km), Renaniree (28km), The Moorings (33km), Currabeg (35 km), Liscarrigane (38km), Moulnagrough (43km), Glantane West (46 km), Keim (47km), Rathkieran (49km), MillStreet (53km), Sunville (56km). Finish up at Sunville

May 31st Day 3
Sunville, - Killetragh (4km), - Dromagh (7km), - Coolclogh (9.8km), - Dromagh (12km), Kanturk Golf Club (12km), Kanturk 15km , Rathbeg (20km) - Liscarroll (28km), Killabraher (34km), Shinanagh (38km), Charleville (44km),- Garrienderk (47km), Kilmallock (54km). Finish up third day outside Kilmallock

June 1st Day 4
Start outside Kilmallock, Bruff (9.1km), - Holycross (13km), - Herbertstown (18km), - Rathjordan (20km), Dunvullen (23km) Brittas (30km) - Dromelia (32km), - Abington (33km), - Newport (42 km), - Rossminane (55km) Finish day four in Rossminane.

June 2nd Day 5
Start in Rossminane, - Nenagh (9.5km), - Mohernenagh (17km), - Congor (22km), - Borrisokane (26km), - Ravakeen (39 km), - Deerpark (46km), - Taylors Cross (49km), - Dernafanny (53km). Finish up just outside of Dernafanny.

June 3rd Day 6
Start just outside Dernfanny, - Cloghan (4.7km), Belmont (8.4km), Ballynahown (20km), Cartons Bridge (23km), Mount Temple (31 km) Ardnagrath (38km), Tang (45km), Terelicken (51km), Barry Road (53km), Keenagh (56km). Finish in Keenagh

June 4th- Day 7
Start in Keenagh, Danefort Longford (7.4km), - Ballymacormick (9.8km), - Longford (13km), Drumlish (24km), - Lisboy (30km), - Cloone (39km), Drumnamore (45km), Ballinamore (51km), Derradda Lower (57km). Finish up just outside of Derradda Lower

June 5th - Day 8
Start just outside of Derradda lower, Tonlagee (4.7km), Derrynacreeve (7.7km) , Swanlinbar (12km), Drumcard (19km), - Enniskillen (32km), Bodney (57km). Finish just outside of Bodoney

June 6th - Day 9
Start just outside of Bodoney, - Drumquin (9.8km), Drumlegagh (16km), - Ardstraw (24km), - Strabane (35 km), - Ballymagorry (38km), - Newbuildings (51). Finish Newbuildings

June - Day 10
Start Newbuildings, - Ballynagard (12km), - Muff 14km, - Lemacrossan (25km), - Glentogher (33km), Carndonagh (38km), - Malin (43km), Ballyheeney (48km), Malin Head (56km)