Ciara Mageean spoke about her cancer diagnosis on RTE’s Uncharted with Ray Goggins
Michael Darragh MacAuley, Ciara Mageean and Ray Goggins
Ciara Mageean has been praised as an ‘inspirational’ and ‘seriously impressive human’ following her appearance on the latest episode of Uncharted with Ray Goggins.
The Co Down athlete joined Dublin GAA legend Michael Darragh MacAuley on Wednesday’s RTE One show for a gruelling coast-to-coast endurance challenge across Costa Rica. The trio covered more than 250 kilometres from the Pacific to the Caribbean, cycling, running, kayaking, and trekking through dense rainforest and rugged terrain.
Mageean, an Irish Olympian and reigning 1500m European champion, spoke candidly about her cancer diagnosis during the programme, saying: “I was diagnosed with cancer last May and it’s been a bit of a whirlwind ever since. Initially with the diagnosis, you think, ‘oh my God, am I going to die?’
“Me and the girls always have plans of our big 40th birthday and I’m like, ‘will I be there to celebrate that 40th birthday with my friends?’ and it’s really hard because as much as I can, I want to be me.
“I feel like it’s nearly easier being the person who has the illness. That going to treatment is in my control. How I cope with that post-chemo slump is on me and I know I will make it through.
“But it’s my partner, Tommy. He has to see me feel sick or my parents, whose little girl is ill and they can’t do anything about it.
“I have really low days and I think it’s normal to allow myself that, to just, like, say, OK, I’m sad today.
“Tommy might be out working in the office and he’s on a call and he’s looking at me and he’s like, ‘you OK?’ and I’m shaking my head and he’s like, ‘oh, just a minute’ and all I want is a hug.
“I always envisioned growing old with Thomas that I would get to see him age like a fine wine and get speckled bits of grey through his hair and the reality is I don’t know if I will have that. I find that really tough. I keep seeing beautiful things and I can’t help but wonder will I have an opportunity to see them again.”
Following the episode, numerous viewers flocked to social media to commend Mageean, reports the Irish Mirror, with one person posting: “Ciara Mageean is a seriously impressive human.”
Another wrote: “Amazing lady,such a positive attitude, please God it all works out for her.
“Ciara Mageean is something else,” read a further comment.
Someone else posted: “Amazing, not only an outstanding competitive person – but a wonderful person to boot! You are so special.”
Another viewer remarked: “Ciara, you are some amazing lady, well done and wishing you good health.”
Mageean created history by becoming the first individual Irish European champion since Sonia O’Sullivan with her 2024 victory in Rome. Throughout her career, she has secured four European medals, including bronze in 2016, silver in 2022 outdoors and bronze in 2019 indoors.
The Portaferry athlete represented Ireland at both the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, yet was devastatingly forced to withdraw from the Paris Games just ahead of her scheduled heats owing to an Achilles injury. She also claimed a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
