Local community on the Mayo/Galway border come together to support local woman

The village of Leenane has rallied together to support one of their own.

Leenane is a small yet vibrant community nestled just inside the Galway border, with deep ties to both Galway and Mayo, with many crossing county lines daily. 

During events like the All-Ireland Football Championship, the rivalry ignites, and community members proudly display their colours. 

Yet, in times of need, those borders blur, and our unity shines through.

In 2009, the Graham family, consisting of Brian, Susan, and their two young daughters, became part of this community. 

Shortly afterwards, Susan was diagnosed with cancer, marking the beginning of a long journey. In the years afterwards, she faced a second diagnosis, followed by Lyme disease in 2020. 

In 2022, she received the devastating news of Motor Neuron disease, a progressive and ultimately terminal condition. 

Throughout these years, Susan and Brian have lived and worked on both sides of the Galway-Mayo border. 

Their daughters, Katie (20) and Caoimhe (18), like many children in our area, participated in clubs and attended school in both counties. 

In 2018, the family moved to Letterfrack, after unsuccessful attempts to purchase their forever home in Leenane. Until her health declined, Susan dedicated her career to supporting vulnerable children and families in Mayo. 

In recent months, as her condition worsened, Brian made the decision to leave his job and care for her full-time.

To help, community members are organising a sponsored 67-kilometre walk across county lines to raise essential funds for Susan and her family. 

The public is invited to join them in making a meaningful impact, alleviating some of the burdens related to home adaptations, medical expenses, home care, and daily necessities.

The event will be led by 14-year-old Niamh Heneghan and a small group of friends, all fostering the spirit of friendship and support that defines our community. 

Scheduled for the weekend of Saturday, November 30, the group will set off from SuperValu Clifden at 8am, completing the first leg of 34 kilometres to Leenane by 4pm. 

The following morning, they will begin again at 8am from Leenane Village, aiming to reach Westport’s Octagon by around 4pm. 

The public are invited to come out and support the walkers on this long journey, but unfortunately, for safety reasons, the number of participants are limited in the actual walk. 

However, spectators and cheers would be much appreciated along the route. 

To wrap up the event on Sunday, December 1, The Porter House in Westport will provide refreshments and ceol agus craic with Joe Forde and Eric Heneghan from 4-6pm. 

Additionally, a raffle is set to take place Sunday evening. 

To donate, collection buckets and sponsorship cards will be available at various locations along the route in the weeks leading up to the event.

For those unable to attend in person, donations can be made directly to any of the organisers or online to the Graham family’s GoFundMe.