Episode 2
Donie O Connor – Achill To Auschwitz On A Bicycle
Hosts & Guests
Florence Cretaro
Donie O Connor
About This Episode
In this episode of Voices of Boyle, Florence sits down with Donie O’Connor, a well-known figure in the Boyle community. Donie shares stories from his childhood in Boyle, his love for music, and the remarkable journey he took on a bicycle across Europe.
The conversation begins with memories of growing up in Boyle and a nod to Donie’s musical side, which is well known locally. But the heart of the episode focuses on an ambitious cycling trip he took as a retirement gift to himself. The journey was long in the planning and deeply personal in its purpose.
Donie had been quietly preparing for a couple of years before retiring from his role as an Environmental Health Officer. Inspired by a man he once met at a gig in Germany, who cycled from East Germany to Achill Island just after the Berlin Wall came down…Donie decided he would take on a similar route, but in reverse.
He set off from Achill Island and made his way across Europe, eventually arriving at Auschwitz. It was a powerful and emotional destination for Donie, and one that had long been on his mind. He reflected on the atmosphere of the place and the impact it had on him.
“And I’ve been thinking still of what really was going on inside me, I’m not sure, but I couldn’t stop the tears flowing as I was freewheeling down the hill into Auschwitz. And I tell you, Florence, it was that this is the journey’s end. I have done it. It was that, no doubt. But it was also it was so much in the air, what had happened in Auschwitz back in the Second World War.”
He described the contrast between the town’s tranquil present-day setting and its horrific past. Even something as simple as sitting down for a cup of coffee in Auschwitz felt different. He ended up staying at a campsite where reconciliation work was taking place, surrounded by German secondary school students who were there as part of an educational visit.
“I don’t think I will ever understand, having done the tours of Birkenau and the Auschwitz camp, I don’t think I will ever understand why some one person can do what was done in Auschwitz to another person. It is mind-blowingly tragic and I just don’t know what we’re made of that we can do that.”
Donie explained why he chose to cycle to Auschwitz, rather than start there and cycle back. He wanted to be home soon after arriving, not spend two months carrying the emotional weight of that experience with him.
“If I did it the other way around, I was going to experience Auschwitz and then carry that with me on my own on a bicycle for two months. And I said, hold on, I’m not sure that I’m able for that. So I knew within 48 hours I would be back in the arms of my own family.”
It’s a poignant conversation about travel, memory, and facing history in a very personal way. Florence and Donie touch on the importance of remembrance and of being physically present in places like Auschwitz, no matter how difficult.
This episode offers more than a story of cycling from west to east. It’s about reflection, endurance, and what it means to come full circle…both in distance and understanding.
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*Brilliant podcast Florence & Carlo, really enjoying it. My favourite is Donie’s Bike journey.
Donie , thanks for telling your incredible story. Very inspired by your bike journey. I really hope the man who you gifted your bike to… hears your story. That bike of yours was a great friend to you to get you from Boyle to Poland, amazing, and now it lives on in Poland.
Love Donie’s willpower, love that he said he would never give up, his generation had that strength and thought process. Don’t allow yourself to give up and you won’t. We can all learn a lot from people like Donie.
Ná tabhair suas!
Thank you so much Angela….really appreciate the nice comment. They certainly don’t make them like they used to! Xxx
I am listening to the podcast in Perth Western Australia and it was such a joy to listen to Donie on his amazing journey and setting up the fund for the Ukraine people. Very proud of you Donie and I will make sure the O’Gara family here will hear it also as they are not on FB.
Thanks very much for listening on the other side of the world Edith 🙂
What a wonderful podcast.
Please embrace this statement Donnie.
You’re a truly an amazing, beautifully modest man after achieving such a gargantuan feat with no more than a smile on your face & grace in your heart.
What a beautiful listen Donnie, I so enjoyed that journey with you & a credit to you Florence for a wonderfully constructed interview.
You both sounded so at ease with each other, like you were having a chat at the fireplace.
Take a moment to let your heart smile Donnie for such an amazing feat, because the whole world is smiling back at you with gratitude.
What a wonderful man.
Totally agree Risteard – he’s some man for one man! It’s amazing what one can achieve with strength and resilience. And you are a testament to that too. Thanks so much for listening and thank you for your comment about the chat about the fireplace. It felt like it was just that! 🙂
Many thanks, Florence and Donie. This was a great near-introduction for me to Ireland, Boyle, and to a significant milestone for one man. Florence, you did a great job of interviewing Donie–very professional and warm. Thanks to Donie for sharing his adventure. It is a great story. Cheers!
It is a great story indeed and I’m glad you enjoyed the chat Matt. Thanks very much for listening and I hope these podcasts help you keep in touch with Boyle and its people 🙂
Hi Flor
A great podcast
I’m always inspired by other ppls stories, fantastic to have this interview recorded for yrs to come .
Donals journey was amazing not only did he want to do this journey before retiring but to also set up a go fund me hit two birds with the one stone ,a very positive and strong willed man
🤗
I totally agree V. I’m glad you enjoyed listening to the chat 🙂
Fantastic interview with Donie, he is one great ambassador for Boyle.
Well done Florence.
Thanks very much Martina – he’s a great ambassador indeed 🙂
Really enjoyed listening to the podcast this morning. Well done Florence & Donie.
A wonderful podcast. Very well done all round. It tugs very hard on the heartstrings of this expatriate to hear these stories from my hometown. Although I left Boyle in 1986 it will always be my home.
Thank you very much Arnold and I’m very happy you’re enjoying the podcasts. Let’s hope they give you a little taste of home 🙂
Thank you very much, Mandy. Donie is a great storyteller so I had an easy job. 🙂