New route for Nicky McFadden memorial walk this Saturday

A fundraising walk in memory of Athlone TD Nicky McFadden will be held this Saturday, March 30, with a new route having been arranged for it in recent days.

The walk in aid of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association was initially due to take place between Clonbonny and Clonmacnoise.

However, flooding along part of that route means the walk will now be from Ferbane, along the Grand Canal, to Shannon Harbour.

Nicky's sister, Gabrielle, said a bus would be leaving from Athlone GAA Club at 9.40am on Saturday morning. It will bring participants to Ferbane and, following the two-hour walk, there will be refreshments at McIntyre's pub in Shannon Harbour.

The bus will then bring participants back to Athlone at 2.15pm. The bus costs €10, and places are limited. For more details, contact Aine on 087 6571691 or Gabrielle on 087 2636728.

Monday of this week was the tenth anniversary of Nicky McFadden's death at the age of 51, following a battle with Motor Neurone Disease.

In a social media post on Monday, the new leader of Fine Gael, Simon Harris, acknowledged the anniversary.

"Today, I am remembering the courageous Nicky McFadden on her tenth anniversary," wrote Mr Harris.

"Nicky was a friend, a colleague, and a committed public servant and she is as missed today as ever."

An iDonate online fundraising page has been set up ahead of this weekend's walk, and at the time of writing it had already raised more than €3,800 for the charity.