Sean takes to Mourne skies

Sean takes to Mourne skies

7 August 2013

SEAN McKinney loves the Mourne Mountains, but a muscle wasting condition means climbing to the top of Slieve Donard is not an option.

At just six years old Sean is also fascinated by Newcastle’s Slieve Donard Hotel after learning of a link between the building of the hotel and his great-great-great grandfather.

So when the Make-A-Wish Foundation offered the Belfast schoolboy a chance to take a helicopter ride from the hotel over the mountains it really was a wish come true.

Sean has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which causes progressive muscle weakness. Currently he experiences what he calls “tired legs” and can’t walk long distances, but he is very much like any other child.

“We are trying to get in as many experiences as we can with Sean,” said his dad, who is also called Sean. “It is a fantastic charity.”

Explaining the family link with the Slieve Donard, he continued: “My mother mentioned years ago that my great-great grandfather died during the construction of the hotel.

“We holidayed around Castlewellan and Newcastle and that added to the attraction when we really researched it.”

Built by the Belfast and County Railway Company at the end of the 19th century, no expense was spared in the construction of the hotel, which was designed for wealthy Victorian holidaymakers.

“The Down Recorder covered what happened back in 1897,” said Sean. “Basically my great-great grandfather died when helping to move a beam on part of a first floor wall. He fell 20 feet to the ground.”

An inquest was held at Newcastle Railway Station the following day for 57 year-old labourer Francis Magee, thought to be originally from Castlewellan. He had worked for around 40 years for building firm H. Martin and death was found to be accidental.

“Around 20 years ago a garden bench was dedicated to his memory in the grounds of the hotel,” said Sean.

“When down in Newcastle Sean is understandably interested and has insisted on going to the first floor of the hotel. He is very very much into the Slieve Donard and his great-great-great grandfather.

“He is also interested in the mountains and the only way he will get to see the top of Slieve Donard is by helicopter. Whenever I knew helicopter rides were a possibility with the charity I knew right away what he would pick.”

On Sunday, just a day after Sean junior turned six, he took to the skies with dad and big sister Teresa-Marie as his side, while mum Cathy and brother Joseph waited at the hotel.

“It was absolutely spectacular,” said Sean. “Sunday morning was an absolutely beautiful morning. It was quite a smooth ride, it was a great day.

“We all had headphones on and were able to talk to each other and the pilot Paul was very good talking to Sean.

“He circled round the hotel and we could see the people there looking out for us.

“The view was amazing, we could see for miles. We went round to Carlingford Lough and the coast and it was lovely to see the hotel in the distance. Sean really thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a great experience.”