Community effort in full swing as Killarney enjoys coffee morning

THE ‘Friends of the Children of Chernobyl Killarney’ charity organisation are no stranger to fundraising events, having run their annual coffee morning for the last 20 years.

Founded in 1992, the irganisation is one that works to provide support to families, schools and communities that have been affected by the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster.

This years event, held last Thursday as always in the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club, was organised by the ever diligent and excellent Joan Buckley and her great team of organisers.

“It was certainly a good morning anyway, that’s for sure. We’re delighted to announce that we raised €2,313 through the event which we’re thrilled about,” said Joan, speaking to The Kerryman on Tuesday.

“This years event was as brilliant as always, we had a great turnout, the place was packed; there was so many peoplev there that we were spilling out out of our assigned room into the next door bar - which I definitely see as a good sign,” she continued.

“It’s a huge relief that it went well because you know yourself, when you’re organising anything, you always if people are going to show up or not,” she laughed.

Joan, keen to deflect attention away from herself, is keen to stress the great community effort involved in the success of the morning, stating that event wouldn’t have been half as good if not for the help of their great local sponsors.

“Everyone rallied together to make this a great event. From the sponsors who donated so much to the morning to the locals who went away and baked cakes and buns for the morning,” she said, with a smile.

All of the money raised from the event wil go towards continuing the charity’s great work with the affected community.

This work work involves working with and supportsingGaradasia Psychiatric Hospital this hospital is 25 miles north of Pinsk while also b helping to help with feeding families - different interpreters shop every week buying and delivering food to these families in need in the area.

Follow the group on Facebook to find out more.

Joan Counihan, Francis O’Toole, Eileen and Orla Tarrant and Ann Cusack at the Coffee Morning in aid of Friends of Chernobyl Children in the Killarney Golf Club on Thursday. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin

Siobhan Bartlett, Joan Buckley and Julie McCarthy at the Coffee Morning in aid of Friends of Chernobyl Children in the Killarney Golf Club on Thursday. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin

Catherine McMahon, Paula Kavanagh and Geraldine Shallow at the Coffee Morning in aid of Friends of Chernobyl Children in the Killarney Golf Club on Thursday. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Eileen O’Brien and Margaret Roche at the Coffee Morning in aid of Friends of Chernobyl Children in the Killarney Golf Club on Thursday.

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Mary Spillane with her daughter Maura and granddaughter Annie at the Coffee Morning in aid of Friends of Chernobyl Children in the Killarney Golf Club on Thursday.

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Mary Moynihan and Trish Donovan at the Coffee Morning in aid of Friends of Chernobyl Children in the Killarney Golf Club on Thursday.