Over €30k raised by Limerick woman Mary Tierney, wife of late Limerick rugby star dedicates charity hike to his memory

Limerick woman Mary Tierney (far right) pictured above with Carol Fitz-Gough and 14-year-old Isabel and 9-year-old Julia

Marathon Spanish trek by Limerick woman Mary Tierney raised funds for Limerick’s Children’s Grief Centre

Limerick woman Mary Tierney took on a six-day hike in memory of her late husband, and her late dad and walked the Camino del Norte Bilbao to Santander. The hike is approximately 109km long and Mary walked in six stages and has raised over €31,000!

43-year-old Mary Tierney and her daughters, 14-year-old Isabel and 9-year-old Julia, lost her husband and their dad Tom in February 2023. Then, just nine days later, Mary’s dad,  Dermot, who was a beloved Limerick publican also passed away.

“Just over a year ago, we very suddenly lost the centre of our lives, my husband and their daddy, Tom. With a simple and familiar kiss goodnight, neither of us knowing that this was to be our goodbye. Just nine days later we also lost my own dad and their amazing grandad Dermot (Dobs),” said Mary.

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“A person’s reaction to the loss of someone you never wanted or expected to ever live without is very personal -you just do what your body tells you to do. For my girls and I that very quickly revealed itself as a need to talk.

“I’m grateful for that but a willingness to talk and having the tools to do it aren’t one and the same,” she said.

In memory of Tom and her dad, Mary took on the Spanish challenge, while also raising funds for two Limerick charities.

For about a year, Mary has been attending grief counselling in Limerick’s Milford Care Centre, while her daughters have been “wrapped in the protective arms” of Limerick’s Children’s Grief Centre.

“The support we have received from these services (now friends) is something words can’t describe.

“It was our hope to be able to give something back to those who have helped us in the last year, funds raised here will be used for this purpose,” she explained.

“I decided to do this initially to simply spend time in my thoughts with Tom and my dad, but then saw it as a great opportunity to also raise funds for both of these tremendous organisations,” Mary said.

Recently Mary visited the Children’s Grief Centre and presented a check for €25,000 to the centre! Well done Mary. Sending so much love to you and your girls!

You can still donate to the fundraiser here

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