On April 1, 2021, Michael G Phelan set out on what was to become an epic voyage from the source of the River Erkina to the Celtic Sea. Far from being a foolhardy adventure, as the start date might suggest, this voyage wasn't just a labour of love, it had a real practical purpose for the Laois man who has lived by the River Erkina all his life. He says himself, that his life in a big way revolves around the river that rises in Kilkenny and flows through Laois before joining the Nore.Eva, James and Lucy Ryan with the book The G, as he is known to many, set out initially in 2021 to raise funds needed for the River Erkina Blueway. It's ambitious project to make the river navigable between Durrow and Rathdowney as an amenity for locals and a visitor atrraction. The idea of a 30 day paddle was hatched in lockdown when restrictions meant traditional fundraising was virtually impossible. Money was needed to pay for a blueway plan. The idea was to get a sponsor for each day of the day on the river. He was joined by Alison Bailey and his dog Captain. Sponsorship rolled in and it was soon apparent that the 30 day paddle would achieve its goal. By the end of the 30 days Michael was faced with a conundrum that for him had an easy solution. Sponsors continued to come forward but the 30 days were no more. So he decided to go all in. The new challenge - follow the waters of the Erkina and Goul in Laois to the sea along the Three Sisters - the River, Nore, Barrow and Suir. He would even manage a detour to the River Slaney in Wexford. The canoeing fanatic also rebranded calling his sequel challenge '100 Days of Paddling'. He would complete the challenge in 100 days and along the way he used social media to keep the public updated on his progress. However, would also make a decision that would prove crucial. He decided to take a pen and paper and write about his daily paddles in a journal. He also took plenty of pictures along the way. He took notes and photos just to have his own record of the challenge but months later
Fascinating voyage on River Erkina's waters from Kilkenny to the Celtic Sea
