Former Dublin hurling captain, David Sweeney, is as handy with a paint-brush as he once was with a hurley.

One of eight Croke Park staff-members undertaking a ’stationary’ Cycling Challenge this weekend in aid frontline staff in the Mater Hospital, Sweeney hopes his latest work of art will help with the fund-raising.

Everyone who donates will be entered into a draw for his originally framed oil painting, ‘Dublin’s Northside from the roof-tops of Croke Park’.

Sweeney and his seven Croke Park colleagues will attempt to cover 630km - the distance from Malin Head to Mizen Head - within 24 hours using their turbo trainers and bike computers from the safety of their own homes.

The first cyclist will ‘set off’ at 7.0am on Saturday for the first of three stages and there will be a changeover every hour before the final stint closes out the exercise the following morning at 7.0am.

The cyclists are being challenged to complete 26km in each of their one-hour stints.

Raising funds and awareness for our Croke Park neighbour (The Mater Foundation) is the aim of the venture, and the act of cycling at home will hopefully renew the importance of the 'Stay At Home' message that GAA has supported since the outbreak of the current pandemic.

The cycling group includes the following staff members: Alan Milton, Cian Murphy, Kevin Leahy, Kevin Sexton, David Sweeney, David Power, Paul O'Donovan and Ard Stiúrthóir Tom Ryan and they need your support to raise both awareness and support for these most worthy of causes.

You can donate whatever you can by using the 'Give Now' button via the below link.

https://give.everydayhero.com/ie/gaa-stay-the-distance-malin-to-mizen-indoor-charity-cycle

Thank you in advance for your support and generosity and join us on the ‘cycle’ via social media!