My name is Joanna McNulty and this Father’s Day, I’ll be climbing Croagh Patrick in memory of my dad, Joachim, who lost his life in tragic circumstances at Belderrig Pier on February 18th.

Today, May 1st is his birthday, and for the first year, I can’t give him a present for that or for Father’s Day. So instead, I’m doing this climb for him.

We were no strangers to hills from sheep farming.

The picture above was taken on one of the first occasions I climbed our local hills with my dad and some of our cousins on a June bank holiday weekend.

We spoke about climbing Croagh Patrick together more times than I can remember—like we had all the time in the world.

But life got in the way, and we didn’t do it.

So this year, I’ll do it for us both.

I’ll also be raising money for the RNLI and the Gráinne Uaile Sub Aqua Club—the people who helped bring my dad home to us on the night of his accident.

We will never be able to thank them enough. This is my way of trying to give something back.

And I’d really love some company on the day. If you’d like to join me this Father’s Day, you’re more than welcome. Whether it’s in memory of your own dad, someone you’ve lost, or simply to be part of it and support the cause, we can do it together

For anyone taking part, you can give a donation on the day, with all proceeds going directly to RNLI and Gráinne Uaile Sub Aqua Club.

If you can’t make it but would still like to support, you can donate below. Even a small donation or a share means more than you know.

Further details about the day will be shared here and on my social media in the run-up to Father’s Day.

We never got to do this together…

But this one’s for you, Dad