CHARLIE Bird says he would love Daniel O’Donnell to sing a song when they summit Croagh Patrick together next year.

The retired broadcaster, who has motor neurone disease, plans to climb the mountain on March 26 to raise awareness of the condition.

Mr Bird, a former chief news correspondent with RTÉ, opened up about his illness and its impact on his day to day life on the Late Late Show earlier this month. He has since vowed to tackle Croagh Patrick alongside CervicalCheck campaigner Vicky Phelan with all proceeds going to Pieta House and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Also appearing on the Late Late to chat about his 60th birthday was Daniel O’Donnell and in a tweet afterwards 72-year-old Charlie Bird revealed how the Donegal man has vowed that if he is in Ireland in March, he will join the Croagh Patrick pilgrimage.

“I spoke to Daniel after the show and I asked him if he would climb Croagh Patrick with me. He said yes, if he is at home,” the former journalist told the Donegal News.

Prior to their Late Late appearance the two men had never met. But a song from the Donegal musician atop Ireland’s holy mountain would add something special to the challenge, said Mr Bird.

“I’d never spoken to him but he was lovely and I would love it if he would sing a song at the top of Croagh Patrick. That would be nice.”

Since revealing his hike idea people all over Ireland have been putting in place plans to climb mountains close to them.

Maria Rushe of Rushe Fitness in Letterkenny says gym members will be showing solidarity by going up Errigal.

“We always go up Errigal anyway although we haven’t been able to in the past 18 months because of Covid. But we will definitely be taking a crowd up and if people want to join us on the day they will be more than welcome,” Ms Rushe said.

Charlie Bird said he loved the idea of people scaling their own peaks in support of the nominated charities.

“The response to the Late Late Show has been enormous and the support amazing. For me it’s also a personal challenge but it is for charity and this is what we want, we want people going out and doing their own climbs,” he added.