By Paul O’Donovan
For many people exercise is a nice stroll or a walk in the park, for others it is a jog or a few miles of a run, but for Fergal Hingerty, a few years ago, exercise was a distant dream as he had severe back pain and even walking was extremely painful.
Fergal was suffering from acute back pain and the prospect of being crippled for life was not beyond the bounds of possibility.
But now three years later, after major back surgery, and a very slow and tedious recovery period, Fergal has not alone made a full recovery, but he has just completed the arduous task of climbing the highest peak in every county in Ireland.
How appropriate it was then that Fergal, originally from Dublin, but living in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath for the past ten years, should complete his mountain challenge by climbing Westmeath’s highest peak, Mullaghmeen, just outside Castlepollard, last Thursday week, 10 July.
While there are 32 counties in Ireland, there are 27 highest peaks as some of the peaks are bordering a couple of counties.
Minutes after his very impressive achievement of completing all the peaks, Fergal told Topic about his latest achievement.
“This is the final leg of my overall target to climb the highest point of every county in Ireland. Some of the peaks are dual tops as they cover both counties. This peak, my final one of all the counties, is Mullaghmeen, here just outside Castlepollard and it is a height of 261 metres,” said Fergal proudly.
The reason why Fergal took up walking is even more interesting. Approximately three years ago Fergal was suffering from advanced stage one of spinal degeneration, which was causing him chronic back pain. Even the simple task of walking down the street or sitting down would cause him severe pain.
“The pain was excruciating at times. I felt some level of pain 95% of time, and was just waiting to be in pain the other 5%,” said Fergal.
However, Fergal never gave up and he underwent a major operation on his back, which lasted over 9.5 hours and then began his rehabilitation. Part of Fergal’s rehabilitation, after stretching and swimming was to start walking long distances and he began by doing leisurely canal walks around Mullingar and other nearby towns, followed by cross country walks.
“I started climbing the mountains when the physio gave me the go ahead in July 2011, four months after my back operation, when he felt my back was strong enough to go from walking along the canals to the hills. In total I have now climbed 581 mountains and hills in the whole of Ireland,” said Fergal proudly.
WESTMEATH’S HIGHEST POINT
“Mullaghmeen is probably one of the easier climbs I have done, but it is probably most appropriate that I should finish on Westmeath’s highest, as I have been living in Westmeath for the past number of years. I feel Mullaghmeen is the hidden jewel of Westmeath’s tourism and I feel it has been totally neglected by Westmeath County Council in favour of other less important issues,” Fergal pointed out.
One of the joys of mountain climbing and hill walking is that you can walk or climb anytime, whether it is raining or the sun shining. Obviously it is not advisable to set off climbing in very poor, stormy or foggy weather conditions but Fergal has overcome many obstacles en route to achieving his goal.
“I have climbed these peaks in all kinds of weather and have come across various difficulties en route, but it has been very enjoyable. I have climbed Knockboy in very sunny weather, I have climbed Carrauntoohil in very windy weather, I have climbed Nephin, a smaller mountain in Mayo, in pure fog, when I could barely see a metre in front of me, I have climbed Trostan in Co Antrim in the pouring rain, so I have climbed in all kinds of weather. Some of the smaller climbs I have completed on my own but I would rarely go over a 300-400 metre mountain unless I am with a group or some other person from a safety point of view. Certainly under no circumstances should Mweelrea, be climbed by someone on their own and we saw how dangerous that mountain can be when someone unfortunately lost their life on the mountain last year.
If I was to pick out three mountains and categorise them into easiest, most difficult and most scenic climbs, then the easiest would be Cupidstown Hill in Kildare, the most difficult by a long way would be Mweelrea in Mayo, which is also Connaught’s highest peak, which takes a minimum of six to seven hours to climb even by the easiest route, and finally the most scenic by a long way, Knockboy in Co. Cork,” said Fergal reflecting on his arduous journeys around Ireland.
HIGHER TARGETS
However, Fergal doesn’t intend to stop there. “My next target will be to climb and reach the target of 600 mountain tops. Presently I am at 581 and perhaps this coming weekend I will climb another ten or fifteen mountains. On top of this I have completed seven different marathon mountain walks. The challenge walks would generally consist of a set route, with a cut-off time whereby you climb between ten and 15 mountains over a time period. They would be pretty intense and would be the pinnacle for all mountain and hill walkers to do for which you would need a very high level of fitness to complete, said Fergal.
GREAT INSPIRATION
But beneath the story of Fergal and his ability to climb the highest mountain peaks in Ireland is the underlying sense of inspiration Fergal gives to others.
A real sense of belief that despite some great difficulties, pain and discomfort, there is light at the end of the tunnel for those who have the courage, strength and fortune to recover from illness, pain or other obstacles in life. Fergal’s story is truly remarkable and hopefully one that will inspire others to overcome difficulties and achieve their goals.
