Hundreds of friends of Martin Naughton (23 ) who lost his life in a tragic road crash on the N17 at Knockdoe this time last year will climb Croagh Patrick next month in his memory and to raise funds for the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire.
As this facility helps many accident victims on the road to recovery, Martin’s family felt they would like to do something for the charity in his memory.
Up to 400 people are expected to climb Croagh Patrick in memory of Martin on Sunday June 1, including many of his friends from the Tuam and north Galway area and from Super Valu in Ballymote, Sligo, where he worked.
Martin, from Bodane, Tuam, son of Tom and Bernie Naughton, had climbed Croagh Patrick with his friend Wayne Murphy from Tuam only a week before his death.
"As Martin had promised to do the climb every week after that, we are now doing this in his memory and to raise money to help other accident victims," says his sister Michelle, who along with her sister Karen and younger brother Kevin, their parents, friends and the extended family, are organising the event.
The Naughton family is well known in business circles for operating the N17 Electrical, Furniture and Bedding business in Terryland and Briarhill in Galway city.
Registration for the walk takes place at The Corralea Court Hotel on Thursday May 22 from 6pm to 9 pm and again at the same venue on Saturday May 24 from 11am to 3 pm. Buses will leave Tuam for those taking part, also from the hotel, at 10am on Sunday June 1.
"As not everybody will go by bus, it it is important to those travelling by cars or otherwise to Croagh Patrick on the day that we all start at 12 noon," says Michelle.
On return to Tuam that evening a barbecue will be held in The Abbey Tavern, which along with The Corralea Court Hotel, N17 Electrical and Furniture and Super Valu, Ballymote, is the main sponsor.
Each climber will receive a survival pack containing water and some light snacks and they are asked to bring strong climbing boots and clothes suitable for mountaineering in the Irish weather.
Anyone interested in taking part can contact the Naughton family at their Galway businesses or via Facebook by contacting Croagh Patrick for Martin or by attending any of the registration sessions in The Corralea Court Hotel, Tuam next week.
Those who may not be able to do the climb can support it if they wish by donating to mycharity.ie/event/croagh_patrick_for_martin_2014
