A SCHOOL vice-principal completed her epic journey across the length of Ireland on behalf of her late brother.
Ronan Roddy sadly passed away at Donegal Hospice in January 2023. His sister Louise, from Stranorlar, set off last Wednesday from Ireland’s most southerly point Mizen Head in Cork to cycle to the country’s most northerly point at Malin Head to raise funds for Donegal Down Syndrome.
She crossed the finish line in Malin around 3pm yesterday (Sunday).
Louise Roddy (right) and Charlene McNeill and punch the air as they started the final leg of their cycle from Mizen to Malin supported by Finn Wheelers to raise funds for a sports ground at Glenties Comprehensive and Donegal Down Syndrome in memory of Louise’s brother Ronan Roddy. Photo: Brian McDaid.
Nearly €10,000 had been raised online over the weekend.
Louise, who works at Bruckles National School, is with a team of 10 cyclists from Finn Wheelers. Before she set off, Louise spoke from Letterkenny’s award-winning Mac’s Deli, where Ronan worked for 26 years and where his photo proudly hangs on the wall.
She said: “Ronan would have loved to be part of this. The Donegal Down Syndrome Association, which I’m doing this cycle for, did amazing work with Ronan over his lifetime.”
Ronan would have been 48 on June 17 past.
The late Ronan Roddy worked at Mac’s Deli in Letterkenny.
Louise added: “We have the whole route planned, starting out at Mizen Head and cycling for five days with an average of 135 kms a day.”
Her journey took Louise through Kanturk in Co Cork and then up towards Nenagh in Co Tipperary and onwards to Donegal. A spokesperson for Donegal Down Syndrome Association said: “This challenge is a wonderful tribute to Louise’s brother, Ronan Roddy, a much loved member of the Donegal Down Syndrome community. Every kilometre cycled is in his memory while raising vital funds to support the work of Donegal Down Syndrome Association.”
Louise added: “I’m overjoyed to get the opportunity to give something back to Donegal Down Syndrome that have helped so many families like ours over the years.”
School vice-principal Louise Roddy cycled in memory of her brother Ronan.
Donations can be made until July 18 on the idonate.ie website. Down Syndrome Ireland Donegal’s AGM is scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) from 7pm at the Station House Hotel in Letterkenny.