Dubliner treks across Offaly as he traverses entire length of Grand Canal

A DUBLINER has achieved a lifetime's ambition this month by walking the entire length of the Grand Canal from the capital to Shannonharbour.
Peter Kearns, from Walkinstown, set out on his journey on Sunday week last and completed his trek on Friday when he reached Shannonhabour.
Peter's love of the canal was born through a boyhood visit to Roberstown with his late father.
"Over the past few years I've been regularly walking along the canal but have always wanted to do the full Grand Canal journey," he told the Tribune when he reached Tullamore on Wednesday night last.
He has enjoyed his experiences in Offaly, in particular Daingean where he sampled food and beverages in the Blackthorn and Seery's.
"Tullamore I found to be the most vibrant place so far on my travels," added Peter.
He said the weather had been great throughout his trek and he had met "some fantastic people along the way."
The first leg of Peter's journey on day one was from Hazelhatch to Roberstown in Kildare and travelled to Edenderry the following day.
He said he found Edenderry a sleepy town which could clearly do with some form of investment.
The Dublin native walked from Edenderry to Daingean on Wednesday and found the people of the former Offaly capital of Philipstown "really welcoming."
"From chatting to locals I discovered different views about what use the old reformatory building should be put to with some thinking it should be bulldozed and others wanting it turned to community use of some form."
Peter said he found the state of the majestic old courthouse "very sad."
On day four he headed off early and enjoyed a pit-stop for refreshments in the Bakehouse in Ballycommon before completing the journey to Tullamore.
In the Offaly county town he enjoyed a hearty meal in the Brewery Tap and refreshments in the Goalpost where he chatted with locals.
Thursday saw him travel onto Pullough with the final leg of the journey being completed on Friday to the terminus of the Grand Canal at Shannonharbour.
Peter reckons his friends and family back in Dublin will be very impressed with his exploits which he feels has earned him bragging rights for some time to come.