Natalie McNally’s family emotional after completing charity walk to Croke Park
By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA
A brother of Natalie McNally has praised the “unbelievable” support they got during a five-day fundraising walk from Armagh to Dublin to coincide with the All-Ireland football final.
Ms McNally’s family arrived at a bustling Croke Park stadium on Sunday afternoon ahead of the championship match between Galway and Armagh.
Niall McNally said it was an emotional day for them.
“Natalie would have been here if she was still alive and obviously the last time she was here was against Galway and they lost that day, but hopefully she’ll be shining down on us today,” he told PA.
Natalie McNally, 32, was 15 weeks pregnant when she was fatally stabbed at her home in Lurgan in December 2022.
Her family have been vocal in campaigning for action to tackle domestic and gender-based violence.
The walk from Craigavon to Croke Park has raised more than £26,000 (€30,000) and it set to be split between two causes.
These are the Armagh-Down branch of Women’s Aid and Care for Caolan, a fundraiser for Caolan Finnegan, a young footballer from Crossmaglen who is battling an aggressive form of brain cancer.
“The whole of Armagh has gathered around that as well and we wanted to do our part,” Mr McNally said.
“That fella is going through the fight of his life and we were speaking to his mum and dad, they came down to visit us on Thursday night, and the story would break your heart. So, that spurred us on.”
The fundraising walk was organised to coincide with Armagh’s first appearance in an All-Ireland football final in 21 years.
“I said before the Kerry match that if they won I’d walk, because they’d won all their matches this year, all league matches and championship matches,” Mr McNally said.
“When it got to the actual time against Kerry I think I might have been cheering on Kerry towards the end – but I’m happy that they’ve won and I’m happy that I’ve done this. I’ve absolutely loved every minute of it.”
Upon arriving at the stadium, the family met with GAA president Jarlath Burns ahead of the final.
Mr McNally said the support they had received during the five days of walking was “unbelievable”.
“We’ve obviously had family and friends come down throughout the days to come and see us, and all the people who would stop you along the road, or drive and beep in the car, or even stop and pull over the car to give you money.”
He said there appeared to political movement to tackle violence against women, adding: “That’s fantastic news but it doesn’t stop there.”