Offaly woman to be remembered by daughter-in-law in Dublin marathon

BRID McGill from Portlaoise, Co. Laois, is taking on the Irish Life Dublin Marathon this October, running in memory of her late mother-in-law Josie McGill, a native of Clareen, Co. Offaly, a transplant recipient who had hereditary kidney disease.

She will be raising funds and awareness for the Irish Kidney Association (IKA). Her fundraising link is www.eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/BM21114908

Bríd, 40, will run the 26.2-mile race on Sunday, October 25th 2026, just one day before the second anniversary of Josie’s death on October 26th 2024.

A mother of two, Bríd McGill (nee Keegan) is a well-known local fitness coach of 20 years and a primary school teacher. She is currently taking a year away from teaching to develop her passion for fitness through her successful Reformer Pilates business in Portlaoise, which she established more than a year ago and which now has a team of six.

Josie lived with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), a hereditary condition which has affected several members of the McGill family. Bríd’s husband Dermot also has PKD, although it has not progressed to the point where he requires treatment, while two of Josie’s sisters also underwent kidney transplants.

PKD does not affect everyone who has a family history of the condition. It often develops in adulthood and causes cysts to form on the kidneys, which can affect kidney function over time.

Dermot is monitored twice a year by nephrologist Dr Eoin Bergin at Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore and takes particular care of his health through diet, exercise and lifestyle.

Josie spent almost ten years attending for dialysis treatment at the Tullamore hospital three times a week before receiving a kidney transplant in 2016. The transplant was a great success and gave her eight additional years with her family, including precious time with her two adored grandchildren, Frankie and Jodie.

Bríd says the family remain hugely grateful for those extra years, made possible by a deceased donor.

“We’re very grateful for the transplant Josie received and the extra years it gave her with her family. After all the years she spent travelling to hospital for dialysis treatment, she never complained. She was an inspiration to all of us.”

Josie’s health deteriorated over the year before her death. Although her transplant kidney continued to function, she developed a number of other health issues and eventually died from sepsis, aged 72.

“I’m running the marathon and fundraising for the IKA in memory of my mother-in-law, Josie McGill. She was an advocate of the IKA and would be very happy to know that funds were being raised for them,” said Bríd.

“The IKA supports kidney patients and families like ours, and the work they do is incredibly important, particularly for families living with hereditary kidney disease.

“As PKD is a hereditary condition, other members of our extended family may develop end-stage kidney failure, so I’m very happy to be running the marathon for the association.”

As a way of giving back, the McGill family has supported the IKA for many years. In 2019, Bríd, Dermot, their two children and Dermot’s cousins Grace and Trish Harrington from Belmont, Co. Offaly, took part in the IKA’s Run for a Life, a family fun run.

The event was particularly significant for the family as Grace and Trish’s mother, Veronica, also had PKD and had passed away just a few months before the race, aged 64.

Bríd is balancing family life, her growing business and marathon training as she prepares for her second Dublin Marathon. For Bríd, the Dublin Marathon will be more than a personal sporting challenge. “I want to honour Josie’s memory, support the IKA and raise awareness of PKD and the impact of organ donation.”

Bríd is also running a special competition as part of her fundraising campaign. Every €5 donated to her marathon fundraiser gives the donor one entry into a draw to win a four-class Reformer Pilates pass for themselves and a friend, worth €200. To support Bríd’s fundraiser and enter the Reformer Pilates competition, visit Bríd’s Dublin Marathon fundraising page on: www.eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/BM21114908