LONDON PLAYS PART IN KERRY FUND-RAISER
THE long-running Dollis Hill fundraising dance in London is as much a reunion as it is a fund-raiser and once again it was a well-attended event that will be of huge benefit to St Joseph’s Home in Killorglin.
Young and old came from all over Kerry to London for the event to meet with friends and family who have emigrated across the Irish sea and to help a very worthy cause.
All corners of Kerry were represented and a great night was had by all as they caught on all the news of worth with old friends.
The well-established dance is organised by Kerry man Danny Tim O’Sullivan, and it is a key event in a packed weekend of social events which also includes the annual Kerry Association London Person of the Year Awards.
This year’s award went to Ballinskelligs man Vincent Harty who was also in attendance at the Dollis Hill Dance.
Following on from the awards on Friday night, Saturday night saw everyone come together at Dollis Hill to help St Joseph’s Home, Killorglin.
The dance is held in honour of the Killorglin Nursing home for many years, and it is a key fundraising event for this vital service in Mid Kerry.
Upgrading works have been taking place in St Joseph’s Nursing home in recent years, so fundraising is needed more than ever. A new wing has already been added and work on a second wing is underway.
The charity has also been the recipient of the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle in recent years but this dance is one of the annual fund-raisers that allows it to continue to look after people in Mid Kerry.
It is a charity close to Danny Tim’s heart and one he has supported a lot over the years through this annual dance, as well as many other fundraising events.
“It is a very good cause; it is very dear to my heart,” he said.
“We don’t yet what was raised this year as money is still coming in.”
The Dollis Hill dance is also about meeting old friends and is a chance for Kerry people to travel to London and reunite with friends and family.
Danny Tim emigrated to London when he was just a teenager, as many before him did, and he ,like others, has never lost this love of his home place, and it is events like these that helps ensure connections are not lost.
Local councillors and other key Kerry figures were in attendance at the long-running dance, as were many well-known Kerry men now living in the British capital.