FORMER CLARE hurler Tony Griffin has undertaken a 200km walk from his home in Kildare to his native Ballyea as an act of solidarity with the people of Palestine.
Big endurance events are nothing new to Tony. In 2007, he cycled 7000 km across Canada and Ireland in memory of his father Jerome who died from cancer a year previous, thousands of cyclists got behind the event and raised over €1.1m for cancer care and research.
On Saturday, Tony set out a new challenge walking 200km from his home in Ballymore-Eustace, Co. Kildare to his native Ballyea. A writer and co-founder of the youth charity Soar, he is undertaking the journey to raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to call for urgent action on the ongoing starvation, displacement, and occupation of the Palestinian people.
As of Tuesday morning, he has raised over €10,000. He explained, “I have decided to walk in solidarity with the people of Palestine from my current home in Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare to my native Ballyea, County Clare,” said Griffin.
“It’s a walk from one side of Ireland to the other in solidarity with their suffering. It is a 200km walk and I hope to complete it over four or five days, travelling through counties Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Limerick, Tipperary and into my native county Clare. While this walk will test me, it’s nothing compared to the daily suffering, bombardment, and forced displacement endured by Palestinians.”
“Like many people, I watch the children and families being killed in Gaza and the West Bank and feel sadness and helplessness. I shake my head at how world leaders are letting this happen. I’m angry that innocent children are being targeted,” he said.
Watching the widespread coverage of the devastation in Gaza and the systematic targeting of Palestinian families, Tony felt compelled to respond with action, not just words. “The tipping point for me was watching a video where a grandfather cried as he told of how all his grandchildren had been killed. The images of children, emaciated from starvation while stockpiles of food are withheld from them, made me think of how they could be my own children. How can we allow the Palestinian people to be forced from their homeland”.
Griffin acknowledges the enormity of the crisis yet believes every act of solidarity has meaning. “What difference will it make? I am not sure. I want the people of Palestine to know that we have not forgotten them. Whilst this is a personal solidarity walk, I hope to raise some funds for organisations on the ground in Gaza and throughout Palestine. I want to call on Irish, European and world leaders to secure an immediate end to this barbaric and brutal oppression. It is vital that we all realise we are not powerless and to use our voices for peace and freedom in Palestine”.
An All Star in 2006, Tony made his first appearance for the county’s senior hurlers coming on as a substitute in Ballyheighue when Clare defeated Kerry 2-20 1-5 in the 2000 Allianz National Hurling League. He lined out in the 2002 All-Ireland final and National League finals in 2001 and 2005. He led Ballyea to contest their first Clare SHC final in 2003.
In 2022, Tony was part of the Kerry backroom team as the Jack O’Connor managed outfit ended an eight-year wait for All-Ireland success. He had worked with O’Connor and the Kildare senior footballers in 2021. Griffin had previously been performance coach to the Dublin senior hurlers managed by his former teammate and manager, Anthony Daly when they ended a 72-year wait for Division 1 success in 2011 before securing an historic Leinster SHC crown two years later, their first in 52 years.
Griffin is sharing updates from the road via his Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts inviting people across Ireland and beyond to walk with him in spirit, raise their voices, and, if able, to donate in support of humanitarian efforts in Gaza. People wishing to donate can do so at https://www.idonate.ie/crowdfunder/TonyGriffin.
