Memorial walk for Cork man who died in Offaly

In February 2017, Conor O'Hagan, who grew up in West Cork, tragically died in Tullamore, after several years travelling around Ireland and Europe, living 'under the stars' before his young body could no longer cope and finally succumbed to the rigours he had placed upon it.

In May, Kieran O'Hagan (Dad) and his wife (Ann), together with Conor's twin brother (Owen) will undertake the second 105km 'Conor's Walk', as a memorial to Conor and to raise funds for two charities.

Conor and Owen were born in Manchester in May1991. Unfortunately, Conor was diagnosed with a genetic condition (Di George Syndrome, now more commonly known as 22q11 Deletion Syndrome). It is a very complex condition that can affect many aspects of a persons health, both physically and mentally (for more information on the most common rare disease never heard of, see www.22q11ireland.org). As a family, we believe Di George Syndrome was responsible for his chaotic adult lifestyle and ultimately caused his tragic death at the tender age of just 25.

Most of Conor's first year in life was spent in hospitals and he underwent open heart surgery to repair a number of holes at just 7 months of age. Fortunately he soon recovered and whilst it was clear there were some mild learning issues, he was able to attend mainstream school when the time came, albeit with a classroom assistant providing one on one support. He was a really lovely little boy and definitely the one the teachers all wanted to cuddle.

When the boys were just 5 and their older sister Louise 7, we all moved to Ireland and to the lovely village of Lislevane, near Clonakilty in West Cork. Family life was largely ordinary and it was a very happy childhood. Conor was always slightly behind his brother Owen in developmental terms but he was to all intents and purposes a 'normal' boy and loved to have fun.

Things began to change during the teenage years and it was more than the standard 'puberty', 'grumpy teenager' issues, with self harming, obsessive behaviour and Conor isolating himself more and more. At the at the age of 17, he had a mental breakdown. These years were always a worry, as with 22q11, there is a much higher risk of mental health problems during adolescence and early adulthood than for other young people.

Unfortunately, as soon as Conor became 18, he stopped attending his regular sessions with the mental health services and also left home and moved to Cork City. He began drinking heavily and his life just became more chaotic. There was always contact with the family and help and support were always on offer, though rarely taken. A trait of many people with 'the syndrome' is a lack of grasp on reality or an inability to fully understand a situation and also in Conor's case a real believe that everything would come right soon. Whether that be meeting the love of his life or becoming the next Heavy Metal star. He could not have been more wrong.

Within a few short years, Conor was totally alcohol dependant and homeless. He left Cork and moved to Galway in his early 20's and initially seemed happier in himself and perhaps had the best year of his adult life, spending the warm summer days around Spanish Arch and 'busking' around Shop Street. However, his drinking was getting even worse and his friendships broke down and so on he moved again. Soon after though, he was sectioned under the Mental Health Act

In 2015, after spending a number of months in the Mental Health Unit at Cork University Hospital, at the age of 24, he set off for Europe, travelling through Britain, spending time in France, Belgium the Netherlands and ending up in Germany, all the while sleeping rough and the odd night in a hostel. He had now started drinking whiskey and his mental and physical health were both deteriorating fast. He was still in regular touch with home, but more often than not, it was largely incoherent and rambling

After being hospitalised a number of times in Germany, including 2 weeks in intensive care with heart failure, he was brought back to Ireland and spent a number of months recovering before again deciding he did not want or need to change his lifestyle or take the medication he had been prescribed for life and once again he hit the road. Still convinced stardom and love awaited.

His final destination was Tullamore, the home of 'The Dew', which was the draw to the County Offaly town and he spent many a night beneath the 'King Tree', just outside the Charleville estate. As was often the case on his travels, people in Tullamore were very kind to him and for that, we will always be very grateful.

In February 2017, Conor's body could take no more. His years of alcohol abuse, of homeless living of giving no consideration to his health and 'the condition', finally took its toll and he died in Tullamore Hospital, with his family by his side.

He will always be sadly missed and has left a large hole in the lives of all of us all He was a beautiful son, brother, nephew and cousin.

In Conor's memory and to raise funds for 2 charities (22q11 Ireland and Cork Simon), starting on Saturday 29th April, we will walk from Spanish Arch in Galway City to the 'King Tree' in Tullamore, finishing on Bank Holiday Monday 1st May.

The walk is 105km in total and the route and planned schedule is as follows:

Saturday 29th April:

8:30am Spanish Arch, Galway City

11am Costa Coffee in Oranmore

2:00/2:30pm Rafferty's Bar in Craughwell

4:30/5pm Loughrea

Sunday 30th April:

8:30am Loughrea

10:30/11am O'Brien's Bar, Kilrickle

2:30/3pm Aughrim

4/5pm Ballinasloe

Monday 1st May

8:30am Shannon Harbour - Grand Canal

12:30pm Pollagh – Grand Canal

4:30/5pm Tullamore Town (Grand Canal Bridge by Tullamore Dew)

5/5:30pm The 'King Tree', Charleville Estate

After the walk and in the evening (from 6:30/7PM), Joe Lees Bar, Church Street, Tullamore will be the venue for some music and chat.

The organisers would love you to come out and support thembut more importantly, they want you to DONATE! You can do this at www.conors-walk.com.