Jim McGovern with his first cousin, Teresa McGoldrick, catching up on the good old says around Glangevlin.

Grandfather cycles from Tullamore to Glangevlin

Funds raised to help families of bereaved children

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Jim McGovern, with family members also enjoyed celebrating the fact that it was his seventieth birthday recently.

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Jim McGovern, Peter and Susan McVitty.

Sean McMahon

Published: Thu 16 Dec 2021, 5:13 PM

The sad loss of his little infant grandchild, Hugo Colm James McDonald in May of this year, prompted 70 year old Jim McGovern to cycle 134 kilometres from Tullamore to Glangevlin. Of course Jim is a member of a large family in Glangevlin and there were mixed emotions as he rode into the Gap. The fundraiser had set a €5,000 target and they were set to surpass it handsomely.

Jim’s daughter, Liana McDonald takes up the story about the little infant that they lost: “Hugo Colm James McDonald was born on the 4th May of this year – we found out in January he had Emanuel Syndrome, which is a hereditary chromosome disorder and we wee told he had a hole in his heart. Unfortunately, when he was born, the complications with his heart were more seve than they realised”.

Make memories with infant

Liana McDonald added “we were told to make memories with him – they said there was nothing more they could do for him – we made some amazing memories – he lived for five days in total.

“He passed away on the 9th May of this year and we had to make the difficult decision to take him off the ventilator – we knew it was the right thing for him, because he would have suffered.”

This cycle fundraiser in the depths of winter was Jim's idea.

“In September of this year, Daddy (Jim) came to us with the crazy idea he wanted to cycle from Tullamore to Glangevlin. We were trying to convince him to put it off till next May, but he was determined he wanted to take on the challenge before Christmas,” said Liana McDonald.

“My husband Brian said he would support him along the way in the cycle – the two of them hopped on their bikes in Tullamore and here we are in Glangevlin on this lovely Sunday afternoon.”

Brian and Liana’s daughter, Ella (6) got them under starters orders in Tullamore.

Jim McGovern explained that they set off at 8.30am on Friday morning.

“I felt very strongly that I had to do something in memory of little Hugo, which will benefit other families of bereaved children. I am emotional standing here in Glangevlin and my whole family are behind me”, he said with a tear in his eyes.

The funds which are fast approaching the €5,000 target will be used to used to enhance the Butter Fly Rooms in both Mullingar and Tullamore Hospitals.

“These rooms are used to help comfort families in their last hours so that they can make their final memories,” explained Liana McDonald. “Since this has happened, people have been relating their stories of loss. If this gets people talking about it, that is important. It may not lessen the impact, but we always say, 'It’s OK not to be Ok'.”