Hill walk to take place in Cork in memory of 'wonderful, gentle' Tricia 

For retired nurse Tricia O’Rourke, it was a race against time.

Diagnosed with terminal metastatic adrenal carcinoma in November, 2021, her daughter Ciara was getting married in July, 2023.

Tricia’s consultant wondered, in the lead up to the wedding, whether it could be brought forward as anything could happen in the meantime.

But Tricia, true to her thoughtful nature, wanted Ciara’s big day to go as smoothly as possible and hung on for it.

As her husband Gerard O’Rourke, a local historian in the parish of Donoughmore, said: “We were all wondering would Tricia make it, but boosted by blood transfusions, she was dancing until the early hours of the morning (at the wedding) in an extraordinary show of fortitude and perseverance.

“No doubt she had to call on all her resilience to achieve this goal of attending it, and it seemed once that was achieved, she was happy.”

Tricia died six weeks later.

In memory of this mother-of-three - the O’Rourke’s two sons live in Canada - Gerard decided to hold an annual walk to remember his beloved wife and to raise funds for Cork ARC Cancer Support House

The first walk took place in 2024, in association with Bishopstown Hill Walking Club, of which he is a member. Tricia was also a member.

It was only after she got sick that Gerard and their friends at the club realised what a remarkable feat Tricia had achieved. She and her fellow club members climbed Hungry Hill, one of the toughest mountains in West Cork.

At the time, unbeknownst to her, Tricia had an underlying condition that manifested itself when she exerted a lot of energy.

“She would become breathless. Her adrenal gland was affected. Every time she exposed her energy, the gland worked in overdrive,” said Gerard.

“Through the goodness of the walk leader, Paddy O’Shea, who encouraged her every bit of the way, stopping at times, she reached the top of the hill. I can still picture her elation and joy.

“It took five hours to get there. I kept an eye on Tricia. I didn’t want to intrude. Paddy guided her to the top.”

The club have gone there since, doing the same hike every year, celebrating Tricia, singing Only A Woman’s Heart at the summit where Gerard got a stone inscribed in his wife’s memory.

This year’s hike on Hungry Hill takes place on August 15, while less experienced walkers will explore Bere Island.

With ongoing symptoms, Tricia went into hospital to have some scans carried out. It was during the time of covid. and Gerard wasn’t allowed to be at her side.

Tricia gave Gerard the grim news about having cancer of the adrenal gland.

“She would have been walking around with it, possibly for three or four years,” said Gerard.

“She was fit and healthy apart from this, a wonderful woman who was tenacious and courageous, never one to complain, like a lot of mothers in Ireland.

“Fewer than 50% of people with the condition survive five years. Tricia was told there was no chemotherapy, radiation or drugs to help her.

“At the end, she went on some form of chemotherapy which helped her a small bit.”

Tricia retired from the COPE Foundation in July, 2021, having worked there for 42 years, as an intellectual disability nurse. She got her devastating diagnosis less than six months later.

Gerard describes feeling “shell- shocked” when he was told the news.

“You would have thought that after 42 years of giving everything to other people, life would have treated Tricia better,” said Gerard.

“My first reaction was anger at God. I would have great faith; Tricia was kind of on the border.

“I know life doesn’t always work out; she’s one of thousands. She only had two years of retirement.”

The couple had hoped for many years of hiking together and managed to go hill-walking in the Dolomites in Italy.

“Tricia was sick that time too, but she persevered,” said Gerard.

His only grandchild, a little girl going on two years of age called Fiadh, is the light of his life.

“Tricia missed out on that but at least she had the wedding, which is a consolation,” said Gerard.

After a fall, Tricia was in a serious condition at CUH “but she came on. Her consultant, Domhnall O’Halloran, was there when he didn’t have to be. He and Tricia had struck up a very good relationship.

“She also had a good relationship with Derek Power, one of the top oncologists at CUH. She was moved to the second floor. We took her there and were talking outside in the corridor. Dympha (a close friend of Tricia) came out of the room. The next thing, the nurse came and said Tricia was gone.”

Gerard gets great solace from monthly meetings at Cork ARC where people in similar situations to himself get together and look out for one another.

The centre also does bereavement courses among its many services supporting people affected by cancer. Funds are needed to keep Cork ARC going,

“Everything at ARC is free,” said Gerard. “Between the two walks we have done so far, and my donation from sales of my history book, we’re up to about €30,000.

“In the financial world, that’s very small, but this year we’ll maybe get another €8,000.”

Gerard and Tricia had 37 happy years together.

Originally from Upper Glanmire and later Dungourney, before settling in Donoughmore, Tricia was also a keen swimmer.

“She was a wonderful woman, so gentle and kind. She had great empathy with people. She was a genuine Irish cáilín,” said Gerard.

https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/gerardorourke11