Inspirational Offaly man reaches end of epic European walking odyssey

INSPIRATIONAL Banagher man Caolan Kelly reached the end of a remarkable odyssey across France and Italy earlier this month when he finally stood in front of the world's most iconic buildings, the Colosseum.

His Facebook post to mark the occasion was typical of the man in its honesty and positivity: “64 days later, I've walked from the Eiffel Tower to the Colosseum. 1500 km walking on my own. Seven socks lost, 46 nights wild camped in uncomfortable places. Number of ham and cheese baguettes consumed: unknown.

"If you told me this challenge would take nine weeks, I would have told you to go do one - and honestly I would have questioned even doing it in the first place. But if there's one thing I've learned, it's that at the end of the day, it's just you versus you.

"Your self-limiting beliefs are always going to be your biggest opponent in life. Whether you accept those beliefs or challenge to rewrite the narrative - that's up to you. This has been a massive journey of self-discovery, and I'm so grateful to have shared it with everyone who's been following along.”

The night before his final day's trek into Rome, Caolan said the sense of anticipation was acute and he felt very emotional.

“They say the toughest roads lead to the most beautiful destinations and I'm starting to understand why,” he wrote. “To say I'm excited for the Colosseum is an understatement. Mamma Mia!”

The next day, friends and wellwishers met him at the Colosseum and the party began!

“Trust the process, stick with your goals, and you will get where you want to. One chapter closes, another is about to begin. A huge shoutout to everyone who supported me along the way, whether by watching, donating, or sending words of encouragement, from the bottom of my heart, I'm beyond grateful. But this journey was about so much more than just the kilometres. Raising awareness of the vital issue that is mental health is what matters most. It's a reminder that it's okay to share your struggles with those closest to you and that no one has to face their challenges alone.”