SOUTH KERRY OUT IN DROVES TO HELP HOSPICE

THOUSANDS TAKE TO THE ROADS OF THE KINGDOM FOR THE ANNUAL GOOD FRIDAY WALKS IN AID OF HOSPICE

GOOD Friday 2018 was a strange day with pubs and bars open for the first time in 91 years but across Kerry one long standing Easter tradition was alive and well.

On Good Friday morning – in every corner of The Kingdom – walkers hit the highways and byways of Kerry to support the work of the Kerry Hospice Foundation.

Killarney hosted a powerful show of support as walkers emerged in their droves in aid of the vital cause - in Muckross and in Kilcummin.

Walkers took to the National Park in Muckross in memory of the much-loved local woman Vivien O’Shea who passed away in 2013; she was known locally as the ‘Daffodil Lady’ through her fundraising for cancer charities.

In Kilcummin, it was the memory of Sheila O’Sullivan that was to the fore in the minds of all taking part in the Good Friday walk there.

Again, it was a scene characterised by a fantastic response in aid of the Hospice. On what was an emotional day across Kerry – following the recent passing of the foundation’s dearly loved and much missed co-founder and Chairman Ted Moynihan – Hospice Foundation members hosted fundraising walks around the county with each of the charity’s 18 local branches running their own walk.

Good Friday is one of the foundation’s most important fundraising days and all over Kerry thousands of walkers answered the foundation’s call and lined out to do their bit for a charity whose work has touched practically every family in the county.

Walks – all very well attended – were held in Tralee, Spa/Fenit, Castleisland, Inch, Tarbert, Killarney, Ballybunion, Listowel, Glenbeigh, Milltown, The Glen, Cahersiveen, Valentia, Partmagee, Caherdaniel, Ballyheigue, Killorglin and Waterville.

The Tralee walk – one of the largest – was held in honour of the let Ted Moynihan, who hailed from the county capital, and well over 100 people took part in what was the 22nd running of the event.

Out the road in Spa/Fenit there was also a large turnout with around 50 people taking part in the Jerry O’Sullivan Memorial walk along a scenic 10k coastal route. The funds raised at all of the walks will go towards the running and upkeep of the 15-bed Palliative Care In-Patient Unit at University Hospital Kerry. The Hospice Foundation has thanked everyone who took part in the walks and who helped organise and run the various events.

“As always we are so grateful to all who support the events in any way,” said a spokesperson for the Kerry Hospice Foundation.

Rory, Sheila, Aoibhinn, Clodagh and Alan O’Connor with Noel O’Mahony participating in the Hospice Charity Walk in Kilcummin on Friday.

All photos by Michelle Cooper Galvin. Sam O’Sullivan, Ellie O’Mahony, Nikki O’Sullivan (back) Eileen Daly, Beatrice and Seodhla Colleran, Maura O’Mahony and Breda Daly participating in the Hospice Charity Walk in memory of Vivianne O’Shea and Sheila Mac(Guillycuddy) at Muckross on Friday.

Marian, Mike and Elizabeth O’Shea, Michael Kirby, Eabha Stack and Finola Kirby participating in the Hospice Charity Walk in memory of Vivianne O’Shea and Sheila Mac(Guillycuddy) at Muckross on Friday.