In pictures: Cnoc Fola remembers Hugh McFadden with touching fundraiser

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Although based in Craughwell in County Galway since 2003, Hugh McFadden remained well accustomed to the blazing bonfires on the roadsides of his beloved Gaoth Dobhair.

He regularly travelled home to the picturesque headlands of Cnoc Fola and was an ardent follower of the Gaoth Dobhair GAA team.

It felt fitting on Saturday last that smoke rose from bonfires in Hugh’s honour at around the same time Gaoth Dobhair were booking a place in their 25th Donegal senior football championship final.

On Saturday afternoon, with the Atlantic hurling against those ancient crimson cliffs, people straddled the roadsides to welcome a group of 27 cyclists back to Ionad Pobail, Chnoc Fola.

The group of friends and neighbours, including colleagues from Medtronic, cycled the testing 300km distance from Craughwell as part of Hills4Hugh in memory of Hugh, a son of the late Paddy and Máire McFadden from Cnoc Fola, and to raise money for the Galway Hospice, where this much loved son of west Donegal passed away in March following an illness.

The fundraiser has already gathered over a staggering €56,000 - and you can still donate here:  https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/Galway2Donegal

The cyclists left Craughwell on Friday, following a blessing by the parish priest Fr Barry Horgan and on Saturday afternoon arrived in that striking corner of Donegal to a whole mixture of emotions.

Read next: In pictures: GAA fans in Letterkenny as Gaoth Dobhair take on St Michael's

Hugh’s wife Edel and his beloved daughters Aileen, Maya and Anna and other members of the McFadden family were among those who embraced as they gathered for refreshments in the centre.

A Mass for the happy repose of Hugh’s soul was held in nearby Teach Pobail Cholmcille, Cnoc Fola, on Sunday.