Irish Charity Challenges is a concept of, and is administered by, Cosgrove & Associates, a consultancy that was set up in response to the need to provide Irish Charities with a complete and professional management and advisory service in Ireland and overseas when they set out to organise a 'Challenge'. They work extremely closely with the chosen charities from the initial set up and research stage right through to the final debriefing at the end.

 Challenges include:

• Trekking
• Motorcycling
• Golf

Those involved:

• Helen Cosgrove (Project Director)
• U Travel Ltd (Travel)
• Footfall Walking Tours.(Walking /Training)
• Other professional associates for specific types of challenges.

Destinations:

• Spain - Alicante, Santiago de Compostilo, Tarragona
• France - Bordeaux
• Italy - Tuscany
• South America - Chile, Cuba
• Great Britain - Snowdonia, Lake District, Ben Nevis
• Asia - Nepal, Vietnam, Thailand
• Africa - Uganda, South Africa, Kilimanjaro
• Europe - Spain, Italy, France, Slovenia, Romania
• North America - Alaska, Grand Canyon
• Others destinations are researched on request.

Cosgrove & Associates.

Set up in 2004 and headed up by Helen Cosgrove, who has over 10 years experience in the Charity Sector and who has organised 13 Overseas Charity Challenges – including 9 Treks, 2 Motorcycle and 1 Bicycle Challenge – taking over 750 people to 5 different Continents.

She initiated all the Challenges and was responsible for all the logistical phases of each– from getting the volunteers on board at the start  - to making sure that all the third party components used both in Ireland and overseas, were up to the high standard required.

Helen Cosgrove is also one of the main organisers of the “World Invitational Father & Son Golf Tournament’ which takes place in Waterville every August and of the 'Celebration of Ireland' Golf Weekend in Royal Mougins, France.  Proceeds from these famous tournaments are donated to charity each year.

Other associates with particular expertise in certain fields are used to assist on specific challenges when required.

Footfalls Walking Holidays

Footfalls was started in 1994 by Christopher Stacey and backed up by his wife Teresa. The original plan was just to do guided walks in the Wicklow/Glendalough area but due to unprecedented demand this very quickly expanded to many other parts of Ireland and it now operates to most parts of Britain, Scotland and Wales.

All the guides are fully qualified Mountain Leaders and all have extensive training in First Aid.

U Travel

U Travel is a very well established company with over 25 years experience in the travel business.  Their reputation is built on personal contacts and recommendations. Their tours and destinations are put together based on personal investigations and the preferences of their clients.  They are fully bonded and are members of both the ITAA and IAT