Rugby-mad Liam Leonard who has a profound disability attends a day centre where he’s found a kindred spirit in carer Bernie Fleming. To make his dream of attending an international game come true, Bernie will cycle from Galway to Croagh Patrick on May 31, climbing the mountain before cycling home. She and Liam’s mum Orla tell JUDY MURPHY how this fundraiser evolved.

When Orla Mullaney thinks about the future of her 26-year-old son, Liam Leonard, she feels optimistic – and with good reason.

A young adult with profound disabilities, Liam attends a day care centre in Galway City.  And it’s the gesture of a staff member in that centre that makes Orla happy that Liam will be fine as he grows older, even when she’s not in a position to take care of him

“Bernie’s challenge gives me great hope for his future,” she says, referring to an extreme event that’s taking place on Saturday, May 31, so that rugby-mad Liam can attend the Irish-France game in Paris next February.

Bernie Fleming, who began caring for Liam about two years ago at the centre, and bonded with him over rugby , will depart from his home in Claregalway at 4.30am on May 31 and cycle to Croagh Patrick, planning to be there at 10.30am, backed by her support team of Patrick and Caroline Ward.

She’ll climb the mountain at 11.30, and when she descends, will begin the long cycle back to Galway, aiming to be home by 8.30pm.

“That she has volunteered her time, energy and love so that Liam can experience the trip of a lifetime to Paris is more than anything we could dreamed of,” says Liam’s grateful mum.

“As an adult with a profound disability, if he can bond with someone in that way so they want to do something that takes so much time and energy, it makes me feel life will surround Liam with people who love him.”

Watching Liam with Claddagh-woman Bernie, who was his primary carer in the centre for a year and a half, there’s no doubting the affection between them and, indeed, between him and all the staff involved in his care.

To describe Liam as rugby-mad is an understatement.

As his mum and his carers chat, he’s engrossed in a video-recording of an Irish-Italy game from a couple of years ago and is in seventh heaven. A tall young man, he stands in front of the telly on the wall, gazing at the screen. He’s waving his arms and there’s a broad smile on his face. Liam might be non-verbal, but the gurgles of joy tell their own story. He’s utterly happy.

“If he could get into the middle of a scrum or a maul he would,” says his mother with a laugh about his passion for rugby and for sport generally.

“He loves every sport. Rugby is number one and hurling is number two.”

Darts too – the women’s more than the men’s, she adds.

And it wasn’t from the wind he got the passion for sport.

Orla’s father Noel Mullaney played in goals with Sligo senior footballers during the 1960s and was highly regarded, but unfortunate to have been playing during the era of the three-in-a-row Galway side, as his daughter explains.

Noel also played for Connacht in the Railway Cup and was named as goalie in the GAA’s Millenium football team, an honour bestowed on him by his peers.

Orla doesn’t play but she loves sport and is delighted that Liam gets such joy from it.

He was born in November 1998, a fine, strong baby, weighing 10lbs 11oz, she recalls. There was no sign of any issue then, or when they went home from the hospital a few days later.

Pictured: Liam with his mum Orla, left, and his carer at the day centre Bernie Fleming, who is undertaking the major cycling and climbing fundraising challenge so Liam can attend the Ireland-France game in Paris next February. PHOTOS: JOE O’SHAUGHNESSY.