Cavan suckler farmer Derek McElwaine is taking on Croagh Patrick on September 12 alongside the Knockbride U15 team, to raise vital funds for the juvenile gaelic football club.

McElwaine is making the challenge even tougher for himself as he will be carrying a 25kg bag of sheep meal all the way to the summit of the 764m reek.

Working in Lakeland Dairies as a separator, he is a known as a community figure who is always willing to lend a hand, according to the other organisers.

Vice-chair of the juvenile club, he came up with the idea of carrying something up to the top of the reek.

McElwaine said: "It's crazy. A mate of mine dared me to do it. The sheep meal was donated by McCabe Feeds."

Fundraiser

The money raised will be used to buy equipment and on the upkeep of the goals, pitch and grounds at the club as well as coaching.

"Funds are very low at the moment and we said we would do this Croagh Patrick fundraiser to help out."

While McElwaine said he had great intentions of doing some training in preparation for the climb, he ran out of time.

"Farming keeps me active enough," he contended.

In 2019 and 2020 along with his sons James and Conor, McElwaine climbed Croagh Patrick multiple times in a single day, scaling the mountain twice in five hours.

The Cavan farmer also later completing three full ascents in one day for local cancer support charities like Bailieborough Cancer Comfort, which provides free transport to local cancer patients and their families.

"Both my parents had cancer so I wanted to give something back," he explained.