Small school with a big heart as Kilnamangh gets active for Darren
The pupils of Kilnamanagh School got active last Friday as they raised money for their groundsman Darren Furlong and his partner Vicki Hynes.
Darren and Vicki were left homeless on St Stephen’s Day when their landmark thatched cottage was destroyed by fire. The couple who have since found a temporary home in a nearby house suffered a double blow shortly after the fire when most of their surviving possessions were stolen from a locked garden shed beside the shell of their Ballyedmond house.
Darren works as a groundsman in Kilnamanagh and the parents, teachers and pupils decided to run a fundraiser to help the popular couple in their efforts to rebuild their home.
On Friday morning all 23 pupils at the school, the teachers and some of the parents organised a fun walk and cycle close to the school. The fundraiser also coincided with the visit of Bishop Michael Burrows who was more than happy to take part in the walk.
Teacher Eva Clifford said the event had been a great success.
‘Half the students walked and the other half rode their bikes. Some of the parents came in on bikes too. I’d say that about 15 parents took part.’
Eva said that the fundraiser was a blind collection for Darren and the school have no idea how much was raised. The money was simply donated to Darren at the end of the event without being counted.