Broadcaster joined by locals in Slane to launch charity 'Flight of Earls' walk

The local community in Slane joined broadcaster Donncha " Dulaing on Sunday for the first stage of the 'Flight of the Earls' walk which will take place across Ireland and Europe this year. A large crowd of walkers assembled after 11am Mass at St Erc's cemetery in Slane for the first phase of the trek which will see the veteran broadcaster retrace the route of the Flight of the Earls. The walk, which will see walkers travelling in the footsteps of the exiled Irish nobles over the coming months, both here in Ireland and in Europe, is a fundraising effort for the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA). Sunday's walk saw participants walking to Mellifont, with some continuing on to Dundalk later in the day. The Irish Wheelchair Association is celebrating 50 years of working with and on behalf of people with a disability this year. In 1986, Donncha " Dulaing led their first international fundraising walk to Israel and he subsequently led many other walks to support the work of the association. This year, he is leading a walk retracing the steps of O'Neill and his followers both in Ireland and across Europe on 'The Flight of the Earls' journey. They will retrace the epic journey of O'Neill from Slane to Rathmullen in County Donegal and onwards to Europe. The Irish walks will take place over a series of Sundays from March to September and the walk from France to Italy will take place from 20th to 30th September. They will walk to the Church of San Pietro in Montorio, where the remains of Hugh O'Neill lie. Beside him lie the remains of Rory O'Donnell and his brother, Cathbarr. A group of 99 walkers is expected to take part to raise over €300,000 for the IWA.