Marathon effort for Padraic

A DUBLIN man is preparing to take on the Dublin City Marathon later this month as a tribute to his beloved brother-in-law who was tragically killed earlier this year.

Brian Gallagher (39), from Firhouse, is to embark on the epic challenge on October 29 to raise money in memory of Padraic Carney, a well-known national school principal who died on his way to work earlier this year.

Mr Carney, a 53-year-old father-of-three, was honoured at his funeral as a family man.

He was the much-loved principal at St Louis Senior Primary School in Rathmines, and had taught at various other schools across Dublin.

His brother-in-law Brian said he had touched many lives over his lifetime.

“Padraic was one of those people who was almost larger than life,” he said. 

“He was so well known as a teacher and as a local man who inspired the many children who he had taught over the years.”

Brian said he was taking on the challenge, only the second time he has done so,  to raise money for the Irish Kidney Association as a way of paying tribute to Padriac.

“The only positive from Padraic’s passing was that he donated all of his organs and one of his kidneys was successfully transplanted to a patient the following day,” Brian revealed. “Ironically, his own mother Noreen, who is also deceased, was herself the recipient of a kidney donation which gave her an extra 23 years on our beautiful planet.

“I will be running the Dublin Marathon this year in honour of Padraic and to help raise funds and awareness for the Irish Kidney Association and the work that they do.”

Brian set up a ‘Just Giving’ website (www.justgiving.com/fundraising/brian-gallagher6) that has so far raised €1,587.09 of a €2,000 target.

As reported in the Sunday Independent, a huge crowd gathered at the Church of St Pius X Templeogue to pay their respects to Mr Carney and to support his wife Aine and three daughters, Cialann, Aisling and Laoise.

Brian added that he also had the uncanny ability to imitate famous figures which had even won him competitions on the radio.

“He was just a great, all-round guy,” added Brian.