Donegal man to fulfil father's dying wish at 250km Camino

A Donegal man is preparing to fulfil his late father’s dying wish by embarking on the Portuguese Camino to raise money for Donegal Hospice.

Garret Wilson and his friend Gary Ryan are undertaking the gruelling 250km journey in memory of Garret’s father John, who passed away last October. The journey will be the equivalent of walking from Fahan to the GPO in Dublin.

The duo will fly into Porto today, Tuesday, April 22. The following day they start the walk in lows of 20 degrees heat before hoping to finish the walk in 11 days’ time at Santiago De Compostela in Spain.

Garret’s father John worked in Irwin's in Buncrana for several years. He was a very active man who loved the outdoors, having completed three Dublin marathons, numerous half marathons and two parachute jumps, which were all done for charity.
Garret’s parents, John Wilson, from St Johnston, and Jane, from Fahan, moved to the Church Brae in Fahan permanently in 2000.


They are both well-known throughout Inishowen as in recent years they taught ballroom dancing around the peninsula.
John was diagnosed in 2011 with prostate cancer but recovered and led a healthy life up until 2023 when he was diagnosed with bone cancer.

At the end of 2023, the treatment was stopped because his cancer had progressed. Garret describes his father as “unique as he had four stays in the hospice last year. We always thought the hospice was only for end of life, but he went in and got medications and pain relief and came back home again. Then on October 1, he went into hospice for the final time and passed away on October 19.

“This is something to give back to the hospice because they rely so heavily on donations. Someone had to run a coffee morning or a marathon to pay for the care he got; now it is time to give back.”

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Walking the Camino De Santiago was something the late Mr Wilson often talked about, and wished he did, but unfortunately, as his health deteriorated, he never got to do it. However, he persuaded his son to walk the last 115 km of the French Camino last year so that he could get his Compostela certificate.

The quality of life his father had up until he passed away would not have been possible, only for the hospice and all the staff working there, the 48-year-old stressed.

“He had wanted to do something for Donegal Hospice. His idea was that we would do it this year to raise money for the hospice but unfortunately, that wasn't to be as he passed away in October aged 75.”

They have exceeded their expectations by triple after hoping to raise €5,000 but they have already gathered €17,000. A cheque presentation dance is to take place in the Plaza in Buncrana on May 31.

"We never thought we would get this response. We have had a lot of businesses around Inishowen which made donations. The general public has been contacting us about making donations. We are just blown away by how generous everyone is.”
To raise money there have also been bucket collections, including in Costcutters in Carndonagh and Supervalu in Buncrana. Anyone who wishes to donate to the fundraiser can do so via Donegal Hospice Camino in iDonate.