I tried to cycle around the entire island of Ireland. Full Documentary.

Over 3,040 kilometres, I set out to circumnavigate Ireland by bike. Solo. Unsupported.

This wasn’t just an ultra-endurance challenge. It was for my six-year-old daughter, and for everyone living with multiple severe, life-threatening food allergies.

For her, and for millions of others, food isn’t just fuel. It’s a daily risk. A constant calculation. An often invisible challenge that shapes every decision.

The plan was simple on paper.

Immediately after her school sports day, I rolled out from home in Derry, to tackle the east coast riding by Belfast and Dublin, reaching Cork on day two. From there, I joined the 2,400 km TransAtlantic Way bike packing ultra event, following Ireland’s rugged west coast along the Wild Atlantic Way, all the way back north to Derry.

What followed was a test of body and mind that broke me. Overcoming the physical challenge was only possible due to the motivation behind the ride.

This project, Traces of Ireland, is about raising awareness of food allergies, supporting research, and challenging the perception that they are a lifestyle choice rather than a serious medical condition.

It’s also about something more personal. Showing my daughter that this doesn’t define her limits.

Since completing the ride, Sophia has begun Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) treatment in Belfast. This is a medically supervised process designed to increase tolerance to allergens and reduce the risk of severe reactions, offering the potential for a safer, more normal life.

Access to this treatment comes at a significant cost.

If you would like to support Sophia’s treatment and contribute to this journey, you can do so here:
https://gofund.me/699cf0116
If nothing else, I hope this film helps you better understand both the challenge of living with severe food allergies.

But bringing a professional videographer along for a challenge like this, and then turning that footage into a film, is a significant undertaking both in time and cost.

I could have gone out, completed the ride, and left it at that. But this was about raising awareness. To do that properly, I needed help. Thanks to Factor Bikes, who, after I’d decided to use their frame, stepped in to cover the video production costs that I simply couldn’t take on myself, and for making it possible to share this story in a meaningful way.

Camera & Edit: Phil Golston
Dubbing Mixer: Bill Francis
Colour Grade: Alex Duncan
2nd Camera & Photos: Camille Le Saux