'Maybe I'm mad': Kilkenny woman to climb Croagh Patrick on 70th birthday for great reason

A Kilkenny woman has decided to take on the challenge of climbing Croagh Patrick for her 70th birthday to raise funds for the Kilkenny branch of the Irish Kidney Association.

Mary Rooney is from the Loughboy area of the City.

She has had two kidney transplants in the past 20 years and decided she wanted to give back to the Kilkenny branch of the Irish Kidney Association.

"They looked after me very well with peer support and all that. I was grateful to get the kidney transplants and so I decided to give back," Mary said. 

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Her first kidney transplant was in July of 2005 and 15 years later, she had her second one.

Before the first transplant, Mary didn't even know there was anything wrong with her kidneys.

She had gone for a routine check-up with her doctor and was called back to be told that she needed to go to University Hospital Waterford to have bloods and other tests done. 

"At that time they didn't know anything about amyloidosis and I had to be sent over to the Royal Free in London to get it diagnosed," Mary said.

Amyloidosis is a rare disease that is caused by a buildup of protein in organs. 

"I'm more than grateful for the donors, and I can never be thankful enough for them because I wouldn't be here today only for them," she added.

Mary now uses dialysis to help manage the disease, which hasn't stopped her from keeping active. 

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She will turn 70 on March 31 and has set up a GoFundMe as she will be climbing Croagh Patrick on that day to raise funds for the Kilkenny branch of the Irish Kidney Association. 

When asked why she chose to climb that mountain, Mary replied: "I don't know, Croagh Patrick just came out of my head. Maybe I'm mad."

Her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren are going to tackle the mountain with Mary and have been preparing for the climb in advance. 

"Training up hills, down hills, up steps, down steps. I go for a walk every day, even in the rain. I have the raincoat and the waterproof trousers and stuff, so I go every day," she said.

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In terms of turning 70, Mary is not fussed in the slightest. 

I don't mind at all about it. It doesn't matter my age, it's only a number, that's the way I look at it," she said. 

At the moment, her fundraiser has €900 of the €1,400 target raised.

If you would like to support Mary on her journey, you can do so by clicking the link here.