In pictures: Break the Cycle at the Ploughing

The Irish Country Living team set themselves, their readers and the whole agricultural industry a challenge – to cycle 720km to raise awareness of mental health in rural Ireland.

The campaign run by the Irish Farmers Journal and Tirlán was also to raise funds for Aware’s support line.

During the National Ploughing Championships, the three exercise bikes were never idle. Initially, we thought our goal would be a big mountain to climb but we started pedalling and the kilometres started clocking up.

By Wednesday, we had reached our goal and when the last person stepped off the bike on Thursday evening, we had cycled 1,277km. For reference, that is the equivalent of cycling from Mizen to Malin Head...and back again!

There is nothing like a bit of competition to get people passionate and we challenged everyone to see how far they could cycle in five minutes. Dylan Lowry, social media specialist with the Irish Farmers Journal broke the record cycling 5.9km.

The Taoiseach also took to the bike on Tuesday, while being interviewed by the editor of the Irish Farmers Journal, Jack Kennedy.

He said that succession is the single biggest issue that he has come across while attending agricultural shows this year, stating that proper taxes, grants and reliefs need to be in place to ensure that family farms stay viable.

Other ministers, including Pippa Hackett and Martin Heydon, showed their support. Famous broadcaster Marty Morrisey joined on Thursday for the final push, to help the team get over the finish line.

Cycling was our medium to raise awareness but we are also raising funds for Aware, specifically their support line. Volunteers are on the other end of the phone seven days a week to support farmers and their families.

The campaign runs until the end of September so please show your support and donate by clicking here. Thanks to everyone that got involved.