Michael Sutton Memorial Walk to take place in Slieve Bloom Mountains this Sunday

A charity walk in memory of the late Michael “Mick” Sutton will take place in Monicknew in the Slieve Bloom Mountains this Sunday, August 16, followed by a barbecue and live music in Camross.

The event, organised by Mick’s sister Josephine Phelan, will raise funds for projects supporting communities in Mzuzu, northern Malawi.

Mick, a native of Tipperary who died in 2020, was a keen hiker and organised dozens of charity fundraising walks during his lifetime. Josephine, who lives in Camross, is continuing his fundraising tradition with Sunday’s event.

There will be something for all ages and abilities, including a buggy-friendly walk in Camross and face painting for younger participants.

Registration for the walks opens at 11am in The Camross Inn (Bergin’s), R32 FY75.

The day’s activities are Bocadh Lodge Loop, a 7.5km moderate walk taking approximately three hours. Participants will car pool to Monicknew at 11.30am. Walkers are advised to bring a stick.

There is also an easy 2.5km Riverside Walk taking approximately one hour. Car pooling to Monicknew will leave at noon.

A buggy-walk is taking place in the Community Park in Camross at 12.30pm, with face painting for children.

From 2pm, walkers and non-walkers are invited to The Camross Inn, where a barbecue and music will take place, with the event kindly supported by Pauline Bergin and the Bergin family.

All proceeds will support a number of projects in Mzuzu, Malawi, including the Lusekelo School of Computing and the Malawi Heart to Hand Project.

The Lusekelo School of Computing provides ICT education at a nominal fee to vulnerable young people in northern Malawi. The school was established by Ungweru, an NGO founded by Bishop John Ryan from Holycross.

Bishop Ryan, a member of the St Patrick’s Missionary Society, also known as the Kiltegan Fathers, has spent more than 40 years working in northern Malawi.

Josephine Phelan has travelled to Malawi almost every year since 2014. Funds raised through her previous fundraising efforts have helped refurbish the Lusekelo School of Computing and provided computers, photocopiers and textbooks.

A retired Business Studies-Computer Applications teacher and Guidance Counsellor, Josephine has spent around six weeks on each visit, delivering intensive Microsoft Office and job-preparation skills courses.

Some of the funds raised on Sunday will also go towards the Malawi Heart to Hand Project, a long-established charity supporting people in need in Malawi, also through the work of Bishop John Ryan.

Heart to Hand volunteers have developed a carpentry workshop and provided the people of Mzuzu with a sewing room converted from a 40ft container, which was shipped to Malawi in 2025.

Volunteers have also travelled to Malawi on numerous occasions to help roof schools in remote villages.

The project aims to develop practical trade skills and empower local communities through shared knowledge, training and resources.

Organisers emphasise that all individuals involved in the initiatives outlined above cover their own expenses when travelling to Malawi, ensuring that funds raised can be directed towards the projects and communities they support.

Everyone is welcome to take part in the walks, join the barbecue and music afterwards, or simply come along to support the fundraising effort.