Claremorris native Noel Joyce, who has lived in Mullingar for the past 15 years, set out on a long and arduous walk yesterday (Thursday ) from Mullingar to Dublin in aid of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin.
Mr Joyce will be accompanied on his walk by Donegal man Hugh McNulty who decided to join the fundraiser after hearing an appeal on national and local radio this week. The pair will have two overnight stays, in Enfield and Maynooth, before arriving in Dublin on Saturday.
Mr Joyce will be joined in Dublin by his wife, Ballinrobe native Caitriona McGrath, and their three children Shane, Matthew, and Sophie.
Whichever man collects the most money along the way will accompany the Sam Maguire and the winning All-Ireland team to present a cheque to Our Lady's Children’s Hospital Crumlin. It is Mr Joyce’s hope that he will be escorting the Mayo team to the children’s hospital on Monday and if you want to make sure that Mayo is represented you can sponsor him by logging onto http://www.cmrf.org/fundraiser/show?id=2620, or make a lodgement to the bank account Walk to Croker, AIB Bank, 100 Grafton Street, Dublin 2, A/C Name: CMRF, A/C No. 11501369, Sort Code 93-10-47.
Mr Joyce, who has not yet secured a ticket for the All-Ireland final, is hoping the GAA will let him into the game as a mascot.
