Al Collins all Ireland skate mission!

The Rolling Collins Documentary- Trailer

2010-10-15T08:36:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Al who ended up raising a fantastic €13,862 for Muscular Dystrophy Ireland- seen above presenting the cheque to Joe Mooney from MDI.

A documentary of Al's skate is currently in production, click below to see the trailer..

The Rolling Collins - Trailer from Philip Evans on Vimeo.

Day 11 Letterkenny to Malin

2010-07-21T03:48:00.000-07:00

The Mizen to Malin skate mission is complete! Al chomped through North Donegal's finest rolling hills to come in strong, even catching 53kmph on some very scenic downhills. Local skaters, family, friends and representatives from Muscular Dystrophy Ireland were on hand to give Al a warm welcome as he trudged through the final uphill struggle at Malin head. The opposite side of the country gave us the opposite weather conditions (despite the forecast) to the murky start in Mizen head as the sun split the stones on a fine Donegal day. Job very well done Mr. Collins, put the feet up!

Don't forget you can still donate to Al's charity of choice Muscular Dystrophy Ireland right here.

Day 10- Bundorren to Letterkenny

2010-07-19T14:09:00.000-07:00

On the decade day of this trip Al was joined by some great support as he chomped up 84 kms of Donegal roads. Locals and neighbours chipped along and went as much distance as they could handle in a great show of support on this the penultimate day of Al's mission. The sun shone for the most part, but inevitably it rained, which just added a little spice to Al's 50kmph eye bleeding hillbomb on the outskirts of Donegal town. Ten amazing days down, just one more to go..

Day 9- Enniscrone to Bundorren

2010-07-18T15:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's greuling start was a distant memory as on the ninth day of the trip the sun came out to play for a full day. Our finest day yet seemed to bring a new surge of energy to Al's stiffened pins as he ate up over 85kms of Sligo road, glancing through Leitrim and finishing up coast-side in sandy Bundorren, Co. Donegal. Road conditions were thankfully largely favourable, so the big man made the most of it and hacked in in good time. The penultimate day of this challenge is tomorrow, and with stiffening legs and forecast rain, day ten will be a tough one from Bundorren to Letterkenny, look out for Al on the road and lend him all the support you can.

Day 8- Mulranny to Enniscrone

2010-07-17T14:05:00.000-07:00

Eight straight days of Irish roads were definetely taking their toll on Al this morning as he forced his stiff pegs into gear this morning, departing from a most excellent B&B near Mulranny, Co. Mayo. Fortunately the Mayo roads did not punish Al like they had the previous day, and we even got a got run of sunshine as the Bray man drifted along the open plains of Mayo. The finish line incentive seemed to liven his spirits as he finished strong and entered Co. Sligo to rest up in Enniscrone for the night. A Sligo filled day 9 is waiting for those legs tomorrow..

Day 7 Letterfrack to Mulranny

2010-07-16T13:55:00.000-07:00

We are now one solid week deep into Al's adventure and it was day seven that would throw up the toughest challenge yet. Al got rolling from Letterfrack Co. Galway and had a dream roll through a breathtakingly scenic fjord (Galway) where some of the country's finest scenery was accompanied by some very smooth road, plus a few short heavy showers for good measure.
However, once Al crossed the county border in Mayo the road seemed to convert into rubble and the wind turned on his face, making the final 60 km of today very arduous. The big man was showing the struggle but never once gave up and hacked at an uphill finish in Mulranny Co. Mayo that left him hankering for a dip in Clew Bay. Legs are being rested and day eight is just around the corner!

Day 6 Oughterard to Letterfrack

2010-07-15T10:25:00.000-07:00

We've now roughly passed the halfway point of this epic journey and Al has finally started to display some mild signs of fatigue after six consecutive days of heavy milage on his board.
Although he was feeling a bit tired this did not seem to affcet him too much as he finished ahead of his own greuling schedule today as we left Oughterard and swung up through the heavy showery hills and scattered lakes of Connemara. After passing through Clifden Al tore up the final section of the day on some slick and slippery downhills in Letterfrack where he cruised in with time to spare to appear on local radio. Roll on day seven!

Day 6 Oughterard to Letterfrack

2010-07-15T10:23:00.001-07:00

We've now roughly passed the

Day 5 - Ballyvaughan to Oughterard

2010-07-14T14:43:00.000-07:00

Day five seen us leaving the epic landscape of The Burren Co. Clare where Al was greeted with a strange warm sensation upon his skin..oh yeah, the sun! Its the first time Mr. Collins got to get his solar panels out on the whole trip, but alas his sun break was short lived. A torrential waterfall opened upon entry to Galway city and once again Bray's finest found himself trudging through puddles in his soggy gear- still though, another 90km was conquered and the usual double dinner was served up to the chunky one..roll on day 6!

Day 4- Killrush to Ballyvaughan

2010-07-13T16:14:00.000-07:00

Day four was a big race against time- we started early to avoid the impending rain, and although Al covered over 30km of dry rocky road, the downpour eventually caught up with him. Nonetheless, Al trudges on through Lehinch, Lisdoonvarna and the tip of the Burren to cover a good 90 km in eventually sopping wet pot holed conditions. He even ecountered the dreaded corkscrew hill in horrible conditions and came away unscathed... a few rich tea biscuits in the gob and he was right as rain "roll on day fiiive"

Day 3- Killareny to Kilrush.

2010-07-12T14:13:00.000-07:00

Day three provided the longest stage so far, but on far flatter terrain as Al pushed through 90kms of County Kerry's roads, leaving Killarney, passing through Tralee, up to Tarbert and eventually stopping in Kilrush right before the skies opened up- perfect timing as the weather was kind to us all day. Wetter forecasts or on the horizon for the next few days passing through Galway , so if you can come out and lend Al any support I'm sure it will help him to keep on pushing!

o

Day 2- Glengarriff to Killarney

2010-07-11T13:46:00.000-07:00

Day two's weather may have been a little kinder, but the gritty gravelly hills sure were not. Once again, Al soldiered on through steep terrain including Caha Pass and Mole's gap through the ring of Kerry. People again showed great support and even threw us some free grub, bonus!
Driver's please beware when overtaking Al, oncoming traffic is no joke!!
Al reached Killarney and even reached a top speed of 45kmph on the rattling downhills, aw yeah!

Day 1- Mizen to Glengarrif

2010-07-11T13:40:00.000-07:00

Day one of Al's Mizen to Malin challange was marked by some delicious Irish summer weather and the big boy lapped it up. Puddles, potholes and rusty bearings, were ignored as plenty of well wishers beeped on the challenge. Thanks to Liz and Brian Young (below) who helped kick us off at Mizen head in dour conditions and then caught up for some donation collections along the way.
Keep your support coming, its needed and it helps.

Al Collins All Ireland Skate Mission

2010-06-01T09:23:00.000-07:00

Al Collins All Ireland Skate Mission- extended version from Philip Evans on Vimeo.

This July 10th Al Collins is embarking on a skate mission in aid of muscular dystrophy Ireland, leaving from Ireland's most southerly tip Mizen head and hopefully arriving 10 days later in Ireland's most northerly tip, Malin head.

To lend your support you can donate by clicking here, join us on the road or spread the word about Al's mission and help raise money and awareness for muscular dystrophy Ireland.
Follow the progress right here on this blog!

To view the route Al will be taking click here. Below is a more detailed plan of the times and locations of the skate on a daily basis.