Lap Across The Map: Mary Nolan Hickey Rides Again for Arklow RNLI’s 200 Year Milestone
- Pat Nolan
- Apr 22
- 2 min read
Wednesday 22 April 2026
Arklow’s RNLI lifeboat station is marking a remarkable milestone in 2026, its 200th anniversary of lifesaving service, and one local woman is once again going the distance to support it.
Mary Nolan Hickey, a celebrated endurance athlete and long-time supporter of the RNLI, is preparing to undertake a new challenge titled “Lap Across The Map for Arklow RNLI – 200 Years of Lifesaving.” The event will see her travel by e-bike from Maynooth to Galway and back, raising vital funds to support the volunteer lifeboat crews who dedicate their lives to saving others at sea.
This latest challenge marks Mary’s third major fundraiser for the RNLI, continuing a legacy of extraordinary personal challenges in aid of the charity. In 2018, at the age of 65, she embarked on her first “Lap Of The Map,” becoming the first woman to run the entire 1,500-mile coastline of Ireland. Over 107 days, her inspiring journey captured national attention and raised approximately €70,000, helping to fund essential new equipment for lifeboat crews.
Not one to rest on her achievements, Mary returned in 2019 with a second Lap Of The Map, this time on two wheels. Cycling around the coast of Ireland, she pushed her fundraising total even further, aiming to reach €100,000 in support of the RNLI’s lifesaving work.
Beyond her fundraising efforts, Hickey is widely regarded as a pioneering figure in Irish athletics. She holds a unique record as the only woman to have completed every single Dublin Marathon from its inception in 1980 through to 2024, an extraordinary testament to her endurance, discipline, and passion for sport. In recognition of her contribution, 2026 saw the introduction of the Mary Nolan Hickey Perpetual Cup, now awarded annually to the winner of the Women’s Elite race.
Fundraising Press Officer at Arklow lifeboat station Pat Nolan said: "As Arklow celebrates two centuries of RNLI service, Mary Nolan Hickey’s latest journey stands as a powerful tribute, not only to the courage of lifeboat volunteers, but to the enduring spirit of a woman who continues to inspire her community with every mile she travels."
Please support Mary’s journey here:
