Oisín set to climb Ireland's peak in memory of his grandad

An Offaly teenager is getting ready to climb Ireland's highest mountain, Carrauntoohill, in memory of his beloved grandfather who passed away earlier this year.

Oisín Carroll (14), from Ballinagar, Tullamore, will tackle the climb on August 5 in order to raise money for the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association (ILFA), which helped his grandfather, John Carroll, during a brave battle with illness.

John, of St Colman's Terrace, Tullamore, sadly passed away at the beginning of March, aged just 61.

He was diagnosed with a chronic lung disease, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in 2008, but continued to live a full life and would always encourage Oisín to pursue his goals and ambitions.

Oisín's father, and John's son, Pádraig, said the climb had been Oisín's idea and that it would be "an emotional day" for the family.

"Last year we were in Kerry for a week and we were staying near Carrauntoohill. Oisín is always up for a challenge and he wanted to climb it," Pádraig told the Offaly Independent.

"We couldn't do it at that time but we said we'd try to get back there (to climb it another time). After my Dad passed, Oisín was asking about it again and said he was thinking about doing it for charity."

A 'Go Fund Me' page to raise money for the ILFA was duly set up at the end of May, with an initial target of raising €1,000. "We didn't think we'd get that much but we ended up hitting €1,000 in a week," said Padraig.

The target was raised on two occasions and at the time of writing €2,425 had been donated, by 115 contributors, on the 'Go Fund Me' page. Oisín's Dad added that an additional sum of close to €1,000 had been raised from sponsorship cards.

"It blew us away, the support that we've had," said Pádraig.

The charity that will benefit, the ILFA, is the national patient organisation for lung fibrosis. Pádraig said it had helped his Dad over the years by organising support groups for patients, holding classes about managing breathing during panic attacks, and providing tools and resources to help people live with the condition.

Pádraig said his Dad was an outgoing and upbeat person. "He never let the disease get him down. He lived life to the full.

"Even though he had been diagnosed with this illness, he went on holidays every year. Once he was able to keep going, he kept going. He was really encouraging Oisin to (climb Carrauntoohill). He said, 'if you want to do that, then you make sure you do it!'"

Oisín, who has three sisters, will be heading into his Junior Cert year at Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore, in September.

He will be accompanied on the climb next month by his parents, Pádraig and Pamela Carroll, while other relatives are planning to travel to meet the trio at the foot of the mountain.

You can support Oisín's climb on the 'Go Fund Me' page here.