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Coote featured in an RTÉ documentary called Walking the Walk. RTÉ

Tributes paid following death of motor neurone disease campaigner Fr Tony Coote

Fr Coote’s Walk While You Can campaign raised hundreds of thousands of euro for research.

TRIBUTES HAVE BEGUN pouring in for the much-loved priest and social justice campaigner Fr Tony Coote, who suffered from motor neurone disease, led by Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin. 

Fr Coote passed away yesterday evening surrounded by his mother Patricia and brothers David, Kieran and Pat. He was diagnosed with the disease in March last year and made it his mission to raise awareness of the disease and raise much-needed funds for research. 

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin expressed his sympathy to Father Coote’s mother, members of his family and all those who supported him during his long illness, especially his ever loyal priest friends.

In a statement, Archbishop Martin said: “Tony showed all of us how strength can be witnessed even in the face of human weakness. His courage and determination touched the hearts of people of all backgrounds. 

“His courage leaves all of us more humble. May the Lord welcome and give him the deep peace to which he witnessed in his suffering. May he rest in peace.” 

Fr Tony Coote who was administrator of St Therese’s Roman Catholic Church Mount Merrion and St Laurence O’Toole’s Roman Catholic Church in Kilmacud. 

His fundraising campaign Walk While You Can for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and to further research into motor neurone disease was extraordinary raised over €600,000.

His book Live While You Can which was published in May of this year, was both candid and moving. 

Half of the money raised from the walk was used to fund healthcare services for the 400 sufferers of MND in Ireland. 

The remainder of the money was earmarked for a research project headed up by consultant neurologist Professor Orla Hardiman of Trinity College Dublin which focused on better understanding how the disease progresses. 

The walk was the subject of a documentary on RTÉ called Walking the Walk. It followed Fr Coote’s journey through Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Limerick and Cork. 

The programme showed how, along the way, people and communities turned out to welcome and support him. 

The Reverend Canon Gillian Wharton, Rector of Booterstown and Carysfort with Mount Merrion said it was with great sadness she heard of his passing. 

“It is with great sadness that I email you to tell you of the death of our neighbour. As you know, Tony was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in March 2018, and his form of the illness was aggressive,” Wharton said.

As his neighbouring parishes, we, along with so many others, prayed for Tony each day. Last September, after the United Harvest Thanksgiving Service in St Thomas’ Church, we raised €1,250. He was so appreciative of our effort, not for the money itself – although he was very glad to accept it on behalf of Walk While You Can – but for the neighbourliness, solidarity and fellowship that it represented. 

“Please pray for all those who have been deeply affected by Tony’s life and his death, and especially, his mother Patricia, his brothers David, Kieran and Pat, and all his family.” 

Funeral arrangements are to be announced later.

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    Mute C_O'S
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    Aug 29th 2019, 8:39 AM

    God rest him and condolences to his poor mother and brothers. He put up a great battle and raised great awareness of the MND on his challenge walk down through the country from Donegal to Cork last sumner. His book is a must read too.

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    Mute Alan Scott
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    Aug 29th 2019, 8:41 AM

    I remember this man raising awareness and money for motor neurone disease in that wheelchair push across the Country on tv. Such a giving man in his own hour of need. Rest in peace Fr Tony

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    Mute Finnster1977
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    Aug 29th 2019, 9:13 AM

    Very sad news . He came across as a very sincere and giving person . May he Rest In Peace

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    Mute Rb1kan
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    Aug 29th 2019, 10:47 AM

    @Finnster1977: he was indeed a very special person. He was chaplain in my secondary school back when I was a young person and everyone liked him. Very supportive and didn’t shove God down our throats. To remember someone’s supportive words in your own hour of need or in a tough time as an adult is the mark of a truly altruistic person. Onwards to the ‘big gig in the outer-verse’ Fr Tony. RIP

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    Mute Ray
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    Aug 29th 2019, 11:08 AM

    Feel like crying hearing this :( lovely man he made such a difference to people when he was at our school

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    Mute Paul Whelan
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    Aug 29th 2019, 9:34 AM

    R.I.P.

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    Mute Thomas Claffey
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    Aug 29th 2019, 10:35 AM

    Rest in peace .hopefully he is with his God now.

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    Mute Alex Marquis
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    Aug 29th 2019, 12:19 PM

    Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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    Mute Kárl
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    Aug 29th 2019, 11:37 AM

    RIP Tony. Thank you for the kindness you showed to my family over the years.

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    Mute William O Connor
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    Aug 29th 2019, 1:05 PM

    Beautiful Man . Priest. Son. Brother.

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    Mute Kath Noonan
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    Aug 29th 2019, 9:48 AM

    Tragic end for a lovely man. However I do hate to see funds raised for research by ordinary taxpayers. These medical and pharma companies are multibillion companies. They don’t need the money.

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    Mute Brendan Greene
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    Jan 2nd 2020, 12:00 AM

    @Kath Noonan: the research is a Trinity College project led by Prof. Orla Hardiman, not a big pharma job.

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    Mute Jimmy Farrell
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    Aug 29th 2019, 1:34 PM

    Seen him on telly last year, was amazing how he coped and had such a positive outlook with his disease. Rip

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    Mute Ol Iver Joyce
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    Aug 29th 2019, 6:31 PM

    Was such a kind and nice man. Was our Chaplain when in UCD. Rest in peace.

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    Mute Angela Godfrey Maher
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    Aug 29th 2019, 5:59 PM

    Rip Father Tony you were so brave to walk for the MND charity

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    Mute andyearley
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    Aug 29th 2019, 10:33 PM

    He was my Chaplin in the ballymun comprehensive school. Very nice man. He was a super young priest probably only 30. Sad to hear R.I.P father Tony.

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