Moville judge raises €3,000 in memory of ‘soulmate’

A retired Moville judge has presented a cheque for €3,000 to the Donegal Hospice and Letterkenny University Hospital after embarking on the Santiago De Compostella pilgrimage in memory of his ‘soulmate’ and wife, Gretta MacBride (nėe Friel). 

The funds donated were raised following the 100km walk by 75-year-old Sean MacBride in early May. In recent weeks, he presented a cheque in gratitude for the exceptional care provided to Gretta by both the Acute Stroke Unit at LUH and the Donegal Hospice.

Gretta, a beloved mother and grandmother from Gortahork, passed away aged 68 in July last year, three weeks after suffering a severe stroke at their home in White Bay House, Greencastle.

The latter half of her life, Gretta, a former solicitor, suffered from numerous health difficulties. Devoted husband Sean retired earlier than planned, aged 65, to care for his wife, whom he married in 1978. 

In 2010, Gretta endured two life-changing operations from cancer. Thereafter, she had her renal gland removed and three other operations for strangulation of the bowel; in two of those, she almost died. 

In 2023, she suffered a serious stroke, resulting in her falling and damaging her ankle. She endured more operations to repair multiple fractures. Gretta was in a wheelchair for some time and convalesced in Carndonagh Hospital.

Ahead of the Camino along the Portuguese/Spanish border, Sean underwent six weeks of intensive training. In preparation, he completed 5k, 6k, and 11k power walks throughout Inishowen.

The long trek was no bother for the Moville man, who was an athlete of considerable merit in his younger years. He was the first student at UCD College to break the four-minute mark at 1500m. 

Sean finished second in the All-Ireland Colleges three-mile in 1968.He was runner-up to Eddie Leddy (who would represent Ireland in the Olympic Games in Munich four years later).

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The following year at UCD's annual college sports competition, he won the mile and the three-mile within an hour in one afternoon. 

Overall, he won the miler four times, a feat which has never been matched since. Sean also represented Ireland at the inter-university competitions in 1972.

Pictured at the presentation are from left, Dr. Miranda, Stroke Consultant LUH, Bindhu Michael, Acute Stroke Unit CNM2, Liam Doherty, Health Care Assistant, Seán MacBride, Isobell Doherty, Chairperson of the Donegal Hospice Directors CLG, Kerry Coll, Staff Nurse, Collette MacElwaine, Physiotherapist Acute Stroke Unit, LUH and Christine McLaughlin, Stroke Nurse Specialist.