Limerick woman who lost husband and dad days apart reflects on grief after Camino challenge
Mary Tierney says she found the walk to be a ‘spiritual’ experience
WHEN she walked the Camino del Norte, a Limerick woman got to reflect on grief after losing her husband and her dad just days apart.
Mary Tierney walked the Camino del Norte (Bilbao to Santander), a hike that is approximately 109km long.
During the challenge, Mary raised funds for two charities close to her heart – the Children’s Grief Centre and Milford Care Centre.
“One day was incredibly tough, it was physically tough and that became mentally tough. This is because of my own circumstances, not everybody who does the Camino is grieving or going through something like this,” Mary told Limer
Mary’s husband and former Munster and Ireland scrum-half, Tom Tierney, passed away suddenly in February 2023. At the age of 46, he left behind Mary and their two daughters, Isabel and Julia.
Nine days later, Mary also lost her dad, Dermot ‘Dobs’ O’Brien, who was a beloved Limerick publican.
Even though she is not religious, Mary found the Camino to be a “spiritual” experience. In a little church in a small Spanish town, she honoured the memory of those she lost.
