‘You are all so close to my heart’ - Charlie Bird honours Murrisk community with commemorative stone

CHARLIE Bird has honoured the people of Murrisk by gifting a commemorative stone to the community.

This afternoon (Saturday), the former RTÉ journalist presented a stone in the shape of Croagh Patrick to the community which had been given to him by a sculptor named Séighean Ó Draoi.

Mr Bird, who suffers from Motor Neurone Disease (MND), made the presentation to commemorate last year’s ‘Climb With Charlie’ fundraiser, which raised over €3.6 million for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House.

Thousands of people took part in climbs and walks around the world when Mr Bird climbed Croagh Patrick last year alongside family, friends and hundreds of others.

Since then, Mr Bird has continued to campaign for various causes despite now needing to use a stick because of his disease.

He was joined at today’s presentation ceremony by his wife Claire, their dog Tiger, Westport Parish Priest Fr John Kenny, Murrisk Development Association Chairman Frank McCarrick, and other members of the Murrisk community.

Speaking through the use of voice capturing technology, Mr Bird thanked all those who had made ‘Climb With Charlie’ a reality.

“The last two years have been dramatic for myself and Claire. But the people of Mayo, Westport and the community here in Murrisk, you have been fantastic. I really mean that, you are all so close to my heart,” said Mr Bird.

He also paid a special tribute to the local schoolchildren in Westport and Murrisk children, whom he described as ‘the real heroes’.

Mr Bird visited local schools prior to ‘Climb With Charlie’ and was cheered on by students from Brackloon NS while he climbed the Reek on April 2 last year.

“I love you all, and all of you have helped me stay alive.”

He added: “While I have a breath in my body, I am going to continue helping the charities close to my heart and helping people in dark places, and yes, extending the hand of friendship.”

Frank McCarrick, Chairman of Murrisk Development Association, said the community was ‘honoured and delighted’ to receive the stone from Mr Bird.

The stone will be erected at the end of the car park in Murrisk and will be encased in a stone display.

“We all know Charlie’s story and we know the history of his life for the last number of years, but I think that Charlie is the most remarkable man because he has turned his misfortune into such a fantastic event as to raise so much money for two such deserving charities,” said Mr McCarrick.

“I think Charlie is to be commended greatly for his courage and his generosity, not alone in giving us this stone, but in everything that he has done around that and around the fact that he is an ill man,” he added, before paying tribute to his wife Claire for supporting her husband through his illness.

Fr John Kenny described ‘Climb With Charlie’ as ‘a wonderful and historic occasion’, adding that the stone would provide ‘a lasting memory’ of the event.

Paying tribute to his campaigning, Fr Kenny said: “There is a saying that every cloud has a silver lining. You are a silver lining for so many; for the people you [Charlie] raised funds for, a silver lining for the darkness some people find themselves in at this time. So thank you and thank God for people like you that have helped so many in ways that can never be fully expressed or appreciated.”

Fr Kenny then led those gathered with a rendition of ‘The Hymn of St Patrick’ before the stone was officially presented to the people of Murrisk.