By Anthony Murphy
Former RTE news correspondent Charlie Bird was given the warmest of welcomes to Drogheda when he visited the grounds of St. Nicholas GFC this morning.
He was there at the invitation of Drogheda Dolls and St. Nicholas GFC who, along with the pupils of St. Paul’s Senior National School, Rathmullen, and gathered guests, showed him that ‘Drogheda is with you Charlie’.
Charlie walked a lap of the St. Nick’s pitch with the St. Paul’s pupils, who had earlier given him a guard of honour upon his arrival to Drogheda.
A clearly emotional Charlie listened as Anthony Matthews read a beautiful poem titled ‘Drogheda is With You Charlie’, (see video below) and Mayor of Drogheda James Byrne formally welcomed him to Drogheda.
He did not go away empty-handed, as Drogheda Dolls representative Natalie Kelly and St Nicholas GFC representative Felix Hackett presented Charlie with a cheque for €1,250 for his campaign, the proceeds of recent fundraising.
There were sandwiches, cake and refreshments for all, and Anne O’Brien, Maeve McElliott and Dessie McDonald were clearly busy looking after the attendees. Also present was Garda Superintendent Andrew Watters.
Gene McKenna, a former Political Correspondent with the Irish Independent, worked alongside Charlie Bird at various events over the course of years and the two had an opportunity to chat about their memories of political events that had occurred during their careers.
Faith healer Patrick McDermott blessed Charlie with the Padre Pio glove, and Grace Clarke of local group Rockaholics presented him with painted stones with messages of support which will be placed on Croagh Patrick when Charlie climbs the famous Mayo reek on 2nd April for the www.climbwithcharlie.ie campaign.
The man of the moment, Charlie Bird, said that “The memory of today I will always carry with me all of the time.” He said that the wonderful gestures of the day were very important to him.
“From the bottom of my heart, you have been amazing today,” an emotional Charlie told the gathering, singling out Natalie Kelly of Drogheda Dolls for special mention.
Natalie thanked everyone who had been involved in the fundraising campaign, and had special words for those who helped organise Charlie’s visit. She presented him with a Drogheda Dolls mug and a St. Nicholas GFC mug.
Charlie Bird announced last October that he had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. On 2nd April, he will climb Croagh Patrick to raise funds (and awareness) for two charities – Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House.
