Portmagee’s five-figure fundraiser

POPULAR CHRISTMAS DAY SWIM RAISES IMPRESSIVE €10,000 FOR LOCAL CAUSES

SINCE it first took to the seas off Cnuicín Pier in 2010, Portmagee’s Christmas Swim has proven astonishingly successful, raising almost €60,000 for worthy causes in that time.

And its most recent edition is the latest indicator that organisers are exactly right to describe it as an event that’s going from strength to strength.

The 2017 staging raised a combined €10,000 for Kerry Hospice and South Kerry Palliative Care (€8,000); and Cahersiveen Community Hospice (€2,000), with special thanks extended to Vincent Devlin of Centra, Cahersiveen – who donated €1,000 on behalf of Dooks Golf Club – and Anthony and Mary Keating of the Fisherman’s Bar Portmagee, who donated €500 to the drive.

Yvonne O’Connell joined the organising team in recent years having seen first-hand the wonderful work charities such as those supported by the swim carry out, both county-wide and locally.

She and fellow members of the organising committee are keen to promote the charities the swim supports and the difference they make to the lives of those living with cancer and those whose loved ones have been affected.

The swim is a relatively new one. It stemmed from an idea born in 2009 when Marian O’Shea, niece Karen O’Driscoll and family members went for a Christmas dip and realised that such a venture could be carried out with public participation to raise funds for cancer services. Marion explained to The

Kerryman in recent days that she lost her sister, Noreen, to the illness, inspiring her to take action in the company of niece Karen and fellow organiser Ann Kennedy.

Marion’s daughter Ailish, and Yvonne O’Connell are now part of the organising team, and Yvonne said the event serves as an important gathering for the community as well as being a terrific fund-raiser.

“We have a small community and it’s a lovely get-together at what can be a lonely morning for some people,” she said.

“You run into the water and run back out again, but we always have warm drinks and refreshments ready for afterwards while everyone sticks around for a chat.

“I suppose two of the biggest things we want to get out there is that we are so grateful to everyone who takes part in the swim or helps out in any way, because it would not happen without these people.

“We also want to promote that these charities are there to help people locally affected by cancer.”

To learn more about the services supported by the Christmas Day swim in Portmagee, or to make donations, you can you can visit www.kerryhospice.com.

Photos by Christy Riordan ABOVE: Presentation of the cheques this week in support of the annual Christmas Swim in Portmagee.RIGHT: Presentation of the cheque by Portmagee Christmas Swim to Mairead Fernane Secretary of Kerry Hospice. From left: L/R Ann Kennedy, Yvonne O Connell, Mairead Fernane, Marion O’Shea and Karen O’Driscoll.