Consultant to scale highest mountains
Geraldine Fitzgerald
Cork-based consultant Dr Richard Horgan aims to climb the highest peak in every county in Ireland in just one week, as a tribute to the memory of his sister-in-law.
A consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Richard is putting in some very intense training ahead of next month’s mammoth challenge, five years after the tragic death of his wife’s youngest sister, Orla Gosnell, 38.
He’s raising funds for Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) through CUH Charity to create dedicated spaces for patients and staff, and as poignant reminder of Orla’s life.
A dedicated social care worker, Orla died in December 2018, five months after delivering her fifth child at CUMH. Richard’s family was understandably plunged into grief.
Initially based at Dublin’s Rotunda, Richard was appointed to CUMH in 2020. Early this year, his nine year old son inspired a long-held ambition to mark Orla’s life and legacy, and he decided to grasp the daunting 32 county peak challenge.
“Failure is not an option,” said the determined Cork dad of three and avid hill walker, who conquered Africa’s highest peak, Kilimanjaro, in 2011. Supported by a colleague, he’ll get little more than 5 hours sleep at the base of his next peak.
It will be a highly emotional undertaking as he carries treasured memories of Orla with him.
“She was so dynamic, it was always about the solution rather than the problem with her,” he recalled.
“She would ask about things and was never one to avoid sensitive conversations if something needed to be said – and I admire that.”
Orla loved children and loved being pregnant. She always wanted to know everything about her care, and that thirst for knowledge lives on in her five fabulous kids. It made Richard think about the patients’ journeys at CUMH.
“What has always been to the forefront in my work is the patient’s experience, the mother’s experience, even in bad outcomes and to make the experience as positive as we can.
“When I walk into the maternity hospital, there are magnificent glass corridors and there’s an opportunity to install benches or seats, we have three floors to work with and could do it on all floors.
“It is simply somewhere patients, their partners and staff can go and sit, take a moment, have a chat, take a call, have those few minutes.”
Richard’s 32 County Peaks in a Week challenge kicks off on 16 July with a minimum €10,000 target and the daunting task of scaling summits in four-five counties each day.
It begins at Knockboy, the highest point in Cork, concluding seven days later as he descends 918m Galtymore on the Limerick/Tipperary border.
He hopes to be joined by Orla’s husband Robert and other family members on the final ascent on 22 July.
The new space will include a symbol specifically remembering Orla and her many journeys in Cork University Maternity Hospital.
Richard’s fundraiser can be supported until August 6 at: www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/DrRichardHorgan32CountyPeaks.