Tullamore family to climb Kerry mountain for Offaly Hospice

A Tullamore family will scale Ireland's highest mountain next month to raise funds for Offaly Hospice in memory of their beloved Dad who passed away in March.

Tommy Godley, who passed away on Good Friday, March 29 last, was a proud Kerry man who returned to his native county from his adopted town of Tullamore on countless occasions to undertake the arduous 1,038.6 metre climb of Carrauntoohil mountain.

Now his family are planning to walk in the footsteps of their late Dad, who was a passionate teacher and a gifted athletics coach, to raise funds for Offaly Hospice and have urged people to donate to this worthy cause at a special idonate page: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/carrauntoohilfortommy

Despite setting an initial fundraising target of €500, the idonate page has already raised over €1,200 just days after it was established.

The Godley family, Tommy's wife, Siobhán, his two sons Jack and Ger and his daughter, Ellen, are urging people to donate to Offaly Hospice which provides invaluable services to cancer patients and their families locally, and which they also availed of throughout Tommy's illness.

The late Tommy Godley was a gifted teacher of woodwork, technical drawing and construction studies who was widely praised for his fairness, kindness, sense of humour and his humility. He was also a passionate advocate for athletics and a deeply committed member and long-time athletics coach with Tullamore Harriers Athletics Club.

He joined the staff of Killina Presentation Secondary School in Rahan in 2004, having initially taught in Kilcormac Vocational School after his arrival in Tullamore from his native Ballymacelligott, outside Tralee in county Kerry.

Tommy returned to his beloved Kerry every year with his Leaving Certificate class from Killina in tow to undertake the climb of Carrauntoohil, in a much-anticipated trip which is fondly remembered by generations of students. He also undertook the climb along with his family on many occasions.

The Godley family are planning to meet at the base of Carrauntoohil mountain in Cronin's yard for 9.30am on Saturday, July 20 next, from where they will set off on their climb. They will be led up the mountain by former world mountain running champion, John Lenihan, who was a great friend of the late Tommy Godley.

As well as urging people to donate to Offaly Hospice on the special idonate page, the Godley family would also love to hear from family and friends who would be interested in joining them on the Carrauntoohil climb.

All donations raised will be directly to Offaly Hospice and people can make a donation here