An Armagh man is preparing to take a leap into the great unknown – and will, literally, be walking on air!
For Patrick Gillen is planning his first ever skydive – leaping from 15,000 ft in a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
He could be forgiven for feeling a little green around the gills at this stage.
But he is braving the skies to bring a little green to Armagh on his saintly namesake’s day!
Last year, as the community parade for St Patrick’s Day wound its way through the streets, there was a very distinct lack of flags and bunting erected to greet participants and spectators alike.
Patrick hopes to help change that.
He told Armagh I : “I just wanted to raise money to get the town decorated with bunting and flags to make it look better.
“I was just thinking of different ways to raise money. Most of the stuff is like abseils and things like that so I just decided I wanted something different. I was looking into it and just decided on the skydive.”
While marathon runners can train well in advance and others can hone in on the skills for their challenges, for Patrick there’s little he can do to prepare.
“There’s no training involved at all,” he said, explaining that all he needed to know would be shared on the day.
“I just have to be there for about half an hour or an hour before my jump. They’ll give me a run down on what to expect and what to do and I’ll meet my skydiving partner that I’ll be jumping with.”
The big day will not be long rolling round. It will be taking place under the auspices of Skydive Ireland, based in Garvagh on March 7.
At this stage, there is little time for thinking too far in advance, as the focus now is on fundraising, with Patrick hoping to raise “as much as I can”.
Nerves, you would think, would be frayed by now, but when asked if he was feeling any way anxious, he was quick to respond…
“Not yet,” says he. “I’d probably say the nerves will kick in when I’m up there!”
Stephen Fields, chairman of the St Patrick’s Day Celebrations Committee, is delighted that Patrick has chosen to undertake his fundraiser.
And he is confident that his efforts will make a different in appropriately-dressing Armagh for the occasion.
The committee organises the parade annually, which will take place on Tuesday, March 17.
This year it will leave the CBS car park at Irish Street at 2pm, making its way through the city centre and finishing at Sherry’s Field Recreation Centre.
Stephen told Armagh I : “The committee are purchasing bunting to suitably bedeck the town to mark the internationally recognised feast day for St Patrick.
“Efforts to encourage the local council to erect bunting failed, with council citing a policy of not erecting bunting for events.
“The parade is included in the itinerary of the Home of St Patrick Festival.
“The St Patrick’s Day Celebrations Committee have been busy raising funds for this specific project and are delighted that Patrick has offered to undertake this challenge.”
There are a number of ways that people can support the venture. Donation boxes are located at a number of venues and sponsor sheets are also available.
Alternatively, a GoFundMe page has been set up. Anyone who would like to support Patrick in his endeavours can donate at https://www.gofundme.com/f/stpatricks-day-parachute-jump
