The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kathleen’s generous donation to local school
CAHERSIVEEN’S Kathleen O’Sullivan is back again with an even bigger and better calendar fundraiser for the third consecutive year.
Over the Christmas period Kathleen spent hours working with the local shops and her good friend and photographer Christy Riordan, selling calendars as a fundraiser for Cahersiveen’s local primary school.
With the support of the local community in Cahersiveen and the surrounding are including Waterville, Kathleen raised an impressive €920 for local primary school Scoil Saidbhín but calendars are still on sale and funds from any further calendars sold will also go to the school.
Of course, this isn’t a first for Kathleen as she has rbeen involved in many fundraising activities down through the years – including several marathons – raising a whopping €45,000 in the process.
When asked where her generosity stems from, Kathleen explained the family-like relationships that are present are Cahersiveen. “They always support me no matter what I do,” Kathleen told The Kerryman.
The photos for the calendar were provided by none other than Christy Riordan, Kathleen’s long time friend.
“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without him, he gave me so much help, he was amazing,” praises Kathleen.
When Kathleen initially began to sell this year’s calendars she was not prepared for the amount she would raise, stating that it was “beyond my wildest dreams”.
When asked where she gets her motivation from, The Kerryman’s ‘Kerry Best Supporter’ said that she takes advice from the great Kerry footballer Mick O’Dwyer: “He once said that if you put in the effort then you’ll get the result, so that’s what I did”.
And her efforts won’t stop there as she will be recording her own CD before Easter to raise even more money for her community.
It’s something that Kathleen loves to do, and she doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. “I get great enjoyment out of what I do, and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. I have a few ideas in the pipeline and I’m looking forward to everything planned in the coming year.”
And sticking to her first love, the CD that she is recording will be based on the Kerry supporters GAA Museum that she has opened in her own home, known locally as The Upper Deck.
“I’m a huge Kerry supporter so it seemed only fitting to bring that in some way,” Kathleen says.
There is much more to come from Kathleen and here at the Kerryman we are always on our toes to see what will come next!