Joe Hennessy, Noel Skehan, Chris Curran(Manager Irish Handball Association), Ducksy Walshe and DJ Carey.
Kilkenny handball legend Michael Ducksie Walsh will lead a charity walk of Croagh Patrick in aid of The Kilkenny O’Neill Centre on May 23. Along with legends DJ Carey, John Leahy, Joe Hennessy, Noel Skehan, and two bus-loads of local people the trek is certain to be a fun day out. Ducksie has been invloved in charity events for the past six years and this time he wanted to do something closer to home. “I know the O’Neill Centre very well and this building used to be the school I attended,” he said. “I was born in The Butts and obviously my heart wanted to help somewhere closer to home. I decided this year, instead of a handball event, I would get a few GAA All-Stars together and climb Croagh Patrick. DJ Carey is another All-Star taking part in the walk for the O’Neill Centre. “Ducksie asked me to help out,” he said. “No-one ever says no to Ducksie and in fairness I wouldn’t want to! “I’ve been involved with the centre myself since my early days of playing with Kilkenny,” he said. “I know how hard the people work here and the wonderful work that goes one. We need a place like the O’Neill Centre, while many people are lucky to have fully healthy children they still understand that it’s a task to raise even a healthy child at times so for a child with special needs it’s 24-7. I know parents don’t mind that but it’s still hard at times so any extra help is neccessary.”
This is true for Claire Brown, whose five-year-old son Oscar attends the O’Neill Centre.