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7 weeks, 15 counties, 275 mountains: Daniel Cooney on pushing to the limit with Mercury’s support
Mid-way through the Vandleur-Lynams challenge (climbing all 275 peaks in Ireland over 600 metres) Daniel Cooney was left feeling “exhausted, both physically and mentally” when a chance encounter with a kind stranger renewed his joie de vivre to complete the challenge.
“I was in the middle of nowhere in rural western Ireland, about to complete my fourth mountain of the day when I realised that to start the ascent, I would likely need to go through a local farmer’s field to get to the foot of the mountain.” “I was sure it wouldn’t be possible; I’d need permission from the landowner and the weather was rapidly deteriorating.” Daniel recalls being “prepared to turn around, stood at the edge of the field, taking it all in” when in the distance he saw a local man approaching down the laneway. The two soon got to talking and before long Daniel was welcomed into the kind man’s home for food, warmth, and conversation, and granted permission to go through his land to start the mountain. It was a welcome retreat from the elements half-way through the 47-day challenge. This encounter was a defining moment of the seven-week endurance test, an experience which “helped me reconnect with nature and myself.” “Instances like that show the importance of basic human understanding and kindness which are lost at times in the modern working world.”
A Born Adventurer
Raised in rural county Meath, Daniel recalls growing up “with a built-in adventurous spirit and curiosity for nature, and the beauty which could be found in Ireland’s diverse landscapes.” He joined Mercury’s IT department in early 2020 and has always balanced his day job dealing with software and computers, with a strong love for all things outdoors, spending weekends volunteering as a hike leader to bring like-minded individuals together and connect mountain-side.
Growing up in the countryside, Daniel has always had a soft spot for animals and dogs especially, with two of his own Cody and Cooper being major focus points in his life. It was through hiking in the last few years that he began to meet volunteers from dog rescue centres throughout Ireland. “I think dogs are the most compassionate, loyal creatures and spending time with my own is one of my favourite things to do”. He continues “When I learned about the incredible work that rescue centres across Ireland are doing, I wanted to get involved myself. There are so many incredible dogs who need a home, and the volunteers do such amazing work, it’s heartbreaking when you learn about how these amazing creatures can be mistreated.” “The more dog shelters I got the chance to visit I was inspired to take action.” Daniel recalls he had been completing some mountaineering challenges but now wanted to do something on a bigger scale, to raise more awareness and funds for dog shelters across the country.
Pushing to the limit for a worthy cause
After learning of the Vandleur-Lynams Challenge, Daniel set his mind on beating the current record- which would mean completing all 275 mountains in less than 48 days. Confident that his ambitious goal would “help him stand out to the public and hopefully lead to more funds raised” Daniel left his family home and set off on the solo adventure of a lifetime, ready for an exciting 7 weeks ahead. Daniel spent up to 15 hours a day on foot, usually completing between 7 and 13 mountains per day. He began the trek in Wicklow on Ireland’s east coast before heading south and navigating the 89 mountains in Kerry alone. Following this he traversed Ireland’s west coast, facing the biggest peaks yet in Galway and Mayo. Daniel made a concerted effort to document his journey on his Instagram page @discovering_dann and upon completing a mountain dedicated it to a dog in one of the many shelters in need of a permanent home- bringing attention and much needed support to rescue centres throughout Ireland.
Despite the physical endurance, Daniel ascertains that the most difficult element was the mental challenge- “I wanted to push myself, both physically and mentally and I definitely got what I’d hoped for. I spent most of the time alone with my thoughts, trudging up and down mountains with bad weather. There was often no phone signal- so it was a real challenge!”
However, he is quick to note that the experience “showed me what my body and mind are capable of when you push yourself to achieve a goal, and it also helps you shift your outlook on life, I appreciate simple things like a shower, sleeping in a bed, and time with loved ones much more now.” While for the most part a solo endeavour, Daniel had friends join him in some counties to complete different mountains- “this made it so rewarding, there’s something about being outdoors amongst nature with a wide-open space in front of you that makes for the best conversations and connections.” What kept him motivated? “Thinking of the dogs gave me the push to keep going, I tried to stay in the present as much as possible. I focused on keeping one foot in front of the other and not letting myself get overwhelmed.”
Mercury’s on-going support
Daniel is adamant that without Mercury’s support “none of this would have been possible”- “I availed of Mercury’s fantastic career break programme and took three months off, to prepare for, complete and recover from the challenge.” “It was amazing to have that time to focus on my own personal interests. Mercury also provided Daniel with a jeep which he used to travel the whole of Ireland, and often coupled as his sleeping quarters.” “The career break has been perfect for me because I’ve been able to pursue my interests while also not giving up my work which I really enjoy too- I’m fortunate to have a very supportive team.”
What advice would Daniel have for those who feel torn between their professional ambitions and a personal passion? “I think seriously asking yourself what makes you happy and then taking small steps to do more of that is a great way to start- when you take that chance you never know what it will lead to. Since completing the challenge I’ve been approached to lead more and more hikes which has been very rewarding.”
Having aimed to dedicate each of the 275 mountains to a different rescue dog, Daniel had initially hoped to raise €2750, which would equate to €10 raised for each mountain completed and dog mentioned. After gaining a significant following online, Daniel has now raised over €10,000 and completed the challenge on August 3rd. Having recently returned to work he has spent the last few weeks resting and looks forward to returning to some of the rescue centres and embracing another fundraising challenge in the near future.
You can keep up with Daniel’s adventures on Instagram @discovering_dann
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