Mountain climb challenge in memory of late James McNieve
Tooreen Hurling Club presenting a signed frame and jersey to the family of the late James McNieve at Adrian Freeman Park to commemorate James' association with the senior club members. From left, Sean Kenny (Tooreen HC), David Kenny (Tooreen HC), Shane Boland (Tooreen HC), Dom Greally (Tooreen HC), Ross Egan (cousin), Matthew and Michael McNieve (brothers), Bernadette McNieve (mother), Enda Sweeney (cousin), Liam Lavin (Tooreen HC), and Oisin Greally (Tooreen HC).
James McNieve was a teacher, a diehard follower of GAA and Arsenal FC, musician, friend, teammate, relative, son and an ‘overall fun person to be around’.
These were the many words used by Michael McNieve to describe his late brother, who died in a tragic car accident last August while coming home after visiting his girlfriend Catherine. He was only 28.
When news broke of the loss of the Knock native, it left the East Mayo community numb. Eight months have passed since the tragedy, and it is still something that family and friends are struggling to get their head around.
“I know it could be cliche when you say there was no one else like him but that’s really it,” said Michael. “It’s come out more since he passed, talking to different people and everyone giving their funny stories about him, their nice stories about him, and that was him. He was just a pleasure to be around.
“He was one of these people where every day he was bubbly and cheery. He never took anything to heart or too seriously and he’s just someone that won't be replaced. That's something that we're all kind of struggling to come to terms with still.” “He's just such a missable figure in all of our lives. We have a big enough family here in Knock and Brickens and he's just such a central figure in all of us, in the whole family and it's still hard to come to terms with him not being here anymore.
“It all happened so suddenly. It just goes from one day being the centre of everything and then the next you know just not being around It's still. None of us have accepted or come to terms with it fully.”
An early bird, James would often be gone from the house and would be involved in something close to his heart. It was his drive to help and contribute to his community that has spawned the James McNieve Foundation, and a challenge called ‘Summit for James’, climbing the four highest mountains in the UK and Ireland, before finishing on with Croagh Patrick, to raise funds for charities and good causes that were close to his heart, with a current target of €50,000 set.
The response from businesses and individuals has been tremendous so far, and Michael and his family have been very thankful to all those who have contributed in any way possible. All proceeds raised as part of this event will be donated to the following:
Make-A-Wish Ireland - Children's Charity, Daisy Lodge, Irish Kidney Association, Mayo MindSpace, Irish Heart Foundation, Bekan NS, Aghamore NS, Glasnevin NS, Gortskehy NS, Knock NS, Tooreen NS, Barnacarroll NS, Ballyhaunis NS, Glasnevin NS, St Louis CS, Aghamore GAA, Eastern Gaels GAA.
The climb will aptly begin on June 24, the date of his birthday. While James had no great interest in mountain climbing, it would be what comes with it that he would have loved.
“He would have loved something like that. He would have loved to go away for the week, the crack around it, for the family,” said Michael.
With two months to go before the climb, preparation and training has ramped up. Close to 30 people will be doing the climb of the mountains, which are Ben Nevis in Scotland (1,345m), England’s Scafell Pike (978m), Mount Snowdon in Wales (1,085m) before coming back to Ireland to climb Carrauntoohil in Co Kerry (1,038m). The climbs will conclude with climbing Croagh Patrick (764m).
To help prepare for the arduous task, James and some of his teammates with Aghamore have climbed mountains after football matches or have climbed Croagh Patrick one day, and then Nephin or Mweelrea the next. It would test the levels of the fittest of GAA players, never mind James and Michael’s mum Bernadette but she’s determined to push on.
“She started training a few months ago at this stage. My cousins Grainne and John McNieve, they've been going with her as often as they can. She's finding it tough.
“It's hard to know. We won't know until the week of. She's training away weekly. She’s climbed Croagh Patrick now. She hasn't climbed it in years. She's been doing the local kind of mountains, but she's determined that she'll get to the top of all five or if not, as much as she can.”
You can donate to the fundraiser here.
