Donegal man runs marathon ‘for every family who deserves the same care’

A Donegal man completed the Irish Life Dublin Marathon, honouring his mum's memory while fundraising for the Donegal Hospice.

Having never run a marathon before, Dungloe native Jamie Sweeney tackled the 26.2-mile challenge on Sunday, October 25, completing it in 4 hours 57 minutes and 13 seconds.

“Everything went well over the weekend,” Jamie told Donegal Live. “The conditions weren’t the best; it was windy, so I’m happy to get it done. The first half went really well; the second half I found tough, but I had never done it before.

“The legs are sore since, but I’m recovering anyway and I really enjoyed the whole experience. Everything in Dublin was brilliant; the volunteers and the crowds kept us all going.”

Marty O’Reilly at O’Reilly Sport sponsored personalised Miles for Mum/Donegal Hospice jerseys for Jamie, family and friends, which they wore on the day.

“We are at €17,000, which is amazing and the link will remain live for another week,” Jamie added.

The 35-year-old began preparing in June, undertaking short runs during the week and long runs at the weekend. He then completed the Donegal Half Marathon and set his sights on the Dublin Marathon.

Jamie’s mum, Paula, passed away in March 2026, at the age of 62, following a cancer diagnosis less than a year earlier. Grateful for the care and compassion shown by the Donegal Hospice, Jamie decided to honour his mum and give back.

An iDonate titled ‘Dublin Marathon 2026 in Memory of Paula Sweeney’ has been created to raise the funds. Jamie has previously fundraised for the hospice as a member of the Association of Donegal Celtic Supporters.

“If you knew our mum, Paula Sweeney, you'd know that even when life got tough, she'd always try to put everyone else at ease. Even during her illness, she'd smile and say, ‘There's not a bother on me.’ It summed up her strength, her humour, and the way she always thought of others before herself.

“While no amount of time could ever have been enough, we're incredibly grateful for the care, kindness and dignity that Donegal Hospice gave our family during the hardest time of our lives.

“One of Mum's greatest wishes was to be at home, and Donegal Hospice made that possible. They helped put everything in place so she could spend her final month at home under palliative care, surrounded by the people she loved most. They didn't just care for Mum—they cared for all of us. Their compassion gave our family comfort, guidance and strength when we needed it most. Now it's our turn to give something back.

“Any donation, big or small, will help Donegal Hospice continue providing vital care to families across Donegal. Thank you for helping us honour Mum's memory and support a service that means so much to our family.

“For Mum. For Donegal Hospice. For every family who deserves the same care.”