Entertainment, Health&Fitness, Lifestyle, News

Liverpool FC Legend To Walk In Memory Of Late John Mitchels Stalwart

.
Looking forward to the Robert O’Dowd Memorial Walk were, front from left; Mary O’Dowd, Fiona O’Dowd, Sandra O’Dowd, Ciara O’Dowd, Mary O’Shea and Mary Shanahan. Back from left; Aileen Foley, Jordan O’Shea, Jean Connors, Joe Hennebery, Trevor O’Shea, Tommy O’Dowd, Timmy O’Dowd, Andrea O’Donoghue and Bláthnaid Buckley. Photo by Dermot Crean

A LIVERPOOL FC legend won’t be walking alone when he joins friends and family of the late Robert O’Dowd at a special event during the August Bank Holiday weekend

Alan Kennedy, who scored the goal to win the 1981 European Cup final for Liverpool against Real Madrid, will fly over for the Memorial 10k Run/5k Walk on Friday, August 3. Kennedy also scored vital goals in League cup finals and scored the final penalty for Liverpool in the shootout against Roma in 1984 to win another European Cup final.

Continued below…

.
Alan Kennedy.

He will then be interviewed later that evening at a post event barbecue party in Benners Hotel where he’ll be joined by rugby legend Mick Galwey and former Tipperary hurling star John Leahy, while Seamus Moynihan will also make an appearance.

Robert O’Dowd of Lee Drive and formerly of Marian Park, passed away in late April after battling for some time against cancer.

Speaking at the launch of the event, Robert’s wife Sandra said she was touched by the kindness of Robert’s friends who are organising the run which is in aid of Kerry Hospice as Robert spent time in the palliative care unit during his illness.

“Robert was a big Liverpool fan so it’s great to have Alan Kennedy there. Hopefully there’ll be a big turnout. Everyone in the palliative care unit was fantastic to Robert,” she said.

The walk/run takes place at 7pm and will start and finish at the Aquadome.  The 5k Walk is €10 and the 10k Run is €20 to register. There are prizes for the first three home in the male and female categories.

There will be post race refreshments and a barbecue afterwards at Benner’s Hotel from around 9.30pm. You can register online for the walk/run by clicking here or on the Friday evening before the walk/run from 5pm to 6.30pm.

Robert O’Dowd

Coming from a well-known Boherbee family, Robert was hugely popular in the community and was a keen sportsman, playing with John Mitchels, at Juvenile, Minor, U21 and Senior level.

He was a member of the Mitchels U21 team that won the County Championship in 1983 and played with the Mitchels Senior team at half back from 1982 to 1990, after which he emigrated to the US. After returning he also managed the Junior team that won the Molyneaux Cup in 2011.