A marathon in memory of Deirdre
A Nenagh-based Garda Sergeant will be joining four relatives of her former colleague, whose untimely death after a brave battle with cancer took place a year ago, to run this Sunday’s Dublin City Marathon in her memory.
Sergeant Regina McCarthy will be teaming up with four men - three of whom are brothers-in-law of the late Garda Deirdre Darcy, and another male relative - to raise funds for North Tipperary Hospice and the Irish Cancer Society.
Garda Deirdre Darcy-Hogan (1963-2022) was known for her generosity and community work. As a juvenile youth liaison officer, she worked hard to help keep coming-of-age kids out of the criminal justice system and was involved in raising money to found the Foróige centre at Banba Square in Nenagh.
During her long fight with cancer, Deirdre organised a local auction with the Aglish Sociable Ladies, raising a whopping €53,000 for the North Tipperary Hospice and the Suaimhneas Cancer Support Centre based in Nenagh.
When she passed away on October 30, 2022, in spite of terrible autumn weather, locals turned out in force to say farewell to a beloved community member who had done so much for them.
Now, as the first anniversary of her passing approaches, loved ones prepare to run the 2023 Dublin Marathon to raise money in her memory for the Irish Cancer Society and North Tipperary Hospice.
Aglish-native Brian Hogan spoke about the Darcy Hogan Cancer Fund’s ongoing fundraising drive. His brother Eamonn Hogan had just run his 15th consecutive marathon in 2022 - and planned for it to be his last - but hearing Brian wanted to sign up, Eamonn agreed to do one more. Then came a dilemma:
“I said I’d sign up for the Dublin marathon,” said Brian, “and Eamonn said that he wouldn’t hang up his runners just yet... At that point we realised that this year’s marathon was going to fall on our sister-in-law’s anniversary, and we were thinking about calling it off and not proceeding. After a little bit of more thought, however, we decided that actually, it’s probably the best way to mark her first anniversary, with a fundraiser and to run the marathon for that cause.”
WORK FRIEND JOINS
A few conversations later, their brother Vincent ‘Vinnie’ Hogan was also in, along with their brother in-law Tom McGrath, and one of Deirdre’s work friends, Garda Sergeant Regina McCarthy. Prior to signing up for the Dublin City Marathon, Brian had run one full marathon and Regina two, but for Vinnie and Tom it would be a first. Running hasn’t been the only means of fundraising, either.
Deirdre's husband, Noel, is heading up a fundraising committee, which has run a number of successful events, including table quizzes, poker night, social evening and a Monster Auction with all proceeds going to the Irish Cancer Society and North Tipperary Hospice.
Coming up next month will be a draw that will take place in Paddy’s Bar in Terryglass on November 25. This this will conclude the series of fundraising events that took place over the year.
Balancing marathon training with other commitments wasn't easy for Team Deirdre but they started to train early in the year and with a gradual buildup, the distance became less daunting and they are all now looking forward to the challenge.