Special Kerry school community hitting the greenway for Nano Nagle 10k walk on bank holiday Monday

But the trail is also now supporting one of the most precious causes of the entire region as it becomes the focus of a fundraising walk for new services it vitally needs.

That’s because the entire Nano Nagle school community and its many friends are decamping to the Kingdom of Kerry Greenways’ Kilmorna-to-Listowel leg on Bank Holiday Monday, May 6, at 2pm.

They’re doing so to raise funds to procure equine therapy services and swimming lessons for the students of the Listowel-based special school.

Named for the founder of the Presentation Order, the school has over 90 students enrolled, drawn from west Kerry to west Limerick and all points in between.

Well-known Listowel publican Christy Walsh came up with the idea for the walk along with some of his friends on the Nano Nagle staff and they’re hoping for a big turnout on the date.

“It’s just a wonderful school, serving the whole region so well and I always love doing events for the Nano Nagle,” Christy told The Kerryman.

“They always come back after an event with photos and receipts to show exactly how the school benefitted and we hope this event will allow them get the equine therapy and swimming lessons as it’s a huge help to the students’ education,” he added.

Personal trainer Conor O’Neill is meanwhile set to help out in leading warm-up exercises before the trek. “We’re also hoping to have a celebrity guest on the day,” Christy said.

And the bus companies serving the Nano Nagle have come on board in a major way to help out too.

“They’re going to collect all of us in the Square on the day and take us out to Kilmorna at 1pm where we’ll start the walk, going all the way back into the Square.”

Christy and fellow organisers ask people simply to register first by contacting Christy at the bar or by contacting the school, with sponsorship cards available through each.

“You don’t have to take a sponsorship card but we need people to register beforehand to know how many for the buses and for insurance purposes.”

There’s an even greater community touch to the whole thing as the good residents of Bunghara just outside Listowel are going to hit the Greenway with refreshments for the walkers as the group pass through their neighbourhood.

It’s on then back into the Square for more welcome refreshments in Christy’s at day’s end – after completing the 10km walk.