Vincent wins huge support for campaign to provide defibrillator

A West Kerry man’s hopes of raising money for a public defibrillator to be installed near the pier in Dingle has attracted so much local support that he thinks he could finish up installing two defibrillator units in the town.

A little over a year ago Vincent Manning from Killehane, Ballyhea, came up with a vague plan to raise money for a defibrillator in memory of his mother Máire Pháid Manning who died suddenly from a heart attack in March 2015 when she was aged just 59 years. Vincent’s initial plan envisaged a cycle around Slea Head and a hike up Mount Brandon with nobody other than himself taking part. However, things have stepped up a gear or two since then.

At the end of January he launched an online appeal for sponsorship on gofundme.com in the hope of raising €2,500 in advance of the 75km cycle/ hike that is planned for his mother’s fifth anniversary on March 28. Vincent thought the target might be over-ambitious but the donations quickly mounted up, reaching a total of over €3,500 by this week and the page will remain open to further contributions until the middle of April.

“I’m blown away by the support,” said Vincent. “I really want to thank everybody who has contributed so far – it’s a lot more than I expected.” He will also get more support than he had anticipated on March 28 and now looks likely to have a gang with him on the cycle around Slea and the hike up Mount Brandon – although not everybody is keen on doing both on the one day.

The fundraiser will help to address what Vincent feels is a serious lack of defibrillators in Dingle generally and particularly in the Quay, which has no defibrillator even though it is by far the busiest part of town during the summer. He aims to locate a defibrillator unit near the head of the pier and already has broad agreement for this from Harbour Master Nigel Collins to install one near the Fungi statue. All that’s needed now is a little more money - and a little training to get in shape for the rigours of the roads and hills.

Donations can be made on https:// www.gofundme.com/f/defibrillator-for-dingle and Vincent can be contacted at vmanning101@gmail.com

Vincent Manning and (right) his late mother Máire Pháid.