On the morning of Sunday, July 19th, my brother Jack and I will be running a half marathon from our grandfather’s birthplace in The Buildings, Carrignavar, to his marital home at Rathanker House in Passage West.

This date marks the one-year anniversary of the passing of Paddy O’Connell, who left us at the glorious age of 104.

The Route & The History

We chose this specific route to retrace an incredible piece of our family history. Back in 1951, Granddad, alongside his brothers and neighbors, walked an impressive 70 head of cattle from Carrignavar, right through the bustling streets of Cork city, all the way down to Passage West. It was the journey to his new home, and the place we are now so incredibly lucky to call ours.

Why We Are Running

We are running to remember an amazing man who we were privileged to have in our lives for so long. Granddad was a steady, guiding influence as we grew up, and he certainly passed on his fierce determination and goal-driven attitude to us.

We are also running to raise vital funds for Marymount Hospice. Their exceptional staff provided wonderful, compassionate care to Granddad in his final days in 2025, just as they did for our beautiful Granny back in 2005.

Join Us!

We would be absolutely thrilled if you would like to run with us for some—or all—of the route! To make this work for anyone else who would like to join, we can easily sort out some carpooling or transport arrangements from Rathanker. Afterward, we will also have refreshments arranged at the house to relax and celebrate.

Please let us know if you'd like to run, and thank you so much for your support!