Shane Mulholland’s wife Vanessa looks on as Fermanagh lift the Lory Meagher trophy in Croke Park
THE widow of Fermanagh senior hurler Shane Mulholland will compete in one of Ireland’s toughest physical and mental endurance challenges later this month to raise money for the charity foundation set up in his memory.
The 27-year-old sportsman was killed in a car crash on April 24 last year on the main Lisnaskea to Derrylin Road just a few miles from his home at Kilnakelly.
The native of Loughgiel in County Antrim was due to start coaching the under 10s in Derrylin O’Connell’s GAA the following morning and was a valuable member of the St Patrick’s Lisbellaw hurling club, where he coached the under 14s and under 16s.
A father-of-one, who had become a dad to a little girl just weeks before the crash, he had also been due to celebrate his first wedding anniversary with wife Vanessa two days after his death.
Out of tragedy, just six months later the Shane Mulholland Foundation was created last October with a view to keeping Shane’s memory alive by continuing the good work he had already begun within hurling development. Driven by Shane’s determination, his zest for life and his love for the game, his family decided to set up the foundation, in a bid to continue the work Shane had started in promoting Gaelic games.
Since it was set up a number of events have taken place including a successful 5k and 10k run in Derrylin in February, when hundreds turned out to pay tribute to Shane.
On Saturday May 21st, Mrs Mulholland and 74 others will compete in ‘Hell and Back’ in Baronscourt estate, Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone, to raise money for the foundation. The 10K route snakes around three lakes as well as stunning views of Baronscourt’s country manor. This gruelling off-road hell combines all the natural and some man-made obstacles including bogs, forest, rivers, lakes and swamps which participants must progress over, under, around and through.
“The foundation is a great way to honour Shane’s memory. He had so much yet to give, and if the foundation can in a small way carry on some of the good work Shane was doing, it will be worthwhile,” said Vanessa.
“I know he would have approved and he would be proud that so many people have and still are showing their support and respect for him through the foundation,” she added.
To donate to the ‘Hell and Back’ challenge you can visit Mrs Mulholland’s Justgiving page – crowdfunding.justgiving.com/vanessa-mulholland-1
To find out more you can visit Shane Mulholland Foundation on Facebook or on Twitter @SM2_Foundation.
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