Limerick man told he would 'never cycle again' takes on 640km fundraiser

EIGHT years after a life-changing spinal injury following a cycling accident, Limerick man Conor O’Dea is taking on the 640km Tour de Munster charity cycle.

When Conor, of the Ennis Road in Limerick city, was seriously injured in a cycling accident in 2017, he was told he would never cycle again.

He refused to lose hope, saying: “That was never going to be the end of the story. Life didn’t end. It just changed.”

Since his injury, Conor has raised close to €200,000 for a range of charities across Ireland. This August, alongside his carer Paula and a custom-built trike, he’s “proving what’s possible one kilometre at a time,” taking on the Tour de Munster to raise funds for Down Syndrome Ireland.

“After the accident, getting back on the road with a trike and feeling the wind in my face, it was nearly emotional,” he recalls. “Tour de Munster was always a goal for me. The camaraderie, the people, the welcome in every town, it’s a family.”

Now in its 25th year, the Tour de Munster is a four-day, 640km charity cycle through all six counties of Munster. Conor, who has taken part before, says the event holds “deep personal meaning”.

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Joining him on the tour will be his care team, headed by Paula O’Keeffe, Bluebird Care Limerick, who first met Conor at the National Rehabilitation Hospital.

“He was lying in a hospital bed, saying, ‘I’m going to get out of this bed. I’m going to walk.’ And I just thought, OK, let’s try,” she says.

Paula hadn’t cycled a bike in 15 years, but after meeting Conor, she was inspired to sign up for her first triathlon.

Conor's care team is supported by Bluebird Care, who provide nurse-led homecare services across Ireland. Conor credits their help and Paula’s “unwavering support” with enabling his continued recovery and independence.

Bluebird Care is also donating towards Conor’s Tour de Munster ride, with all funds redirected to Down Syndrome Ireland’s six Munster branches.

The Tour de Munster takes place from August 7 to 10, with over 120 cyclists participating in support of families and individuals with Down Syndrome across the province.