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The presentation of the cheque, the proceeds from Castlemaine Fair Day, to Kerry Hospice.
THE revival of Castlemaine Fair Day was held on Sunday, October 10 and was a resounding success raising over €40,000 for the Kerry Hospice Foundation.
It was held as a tribute to John O’Donoghue, a pillar of the community who sadly passed away on January 13, 2021 in the Palliative Care Unit at University Hospital Kerry.
On Saturday evening last, January 15th in Griffin’s Bar and Lounge, Castlemaine, the proceeds of the Fair Day which amounted to an incredible sum of €40,061.76 were presented by family members, close friends and the Castlemaine Events Committee to the Kerry Hospice Foundation.
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The palliative care unit at UHK provided exemplary care and support to John and his family following a shock diagnosis of terminal bowel cancer in May 2019.
John O’Donoghue was born on January 21st 1965 which happened to coincide with a staging of Castlemaine Fair Day over fifty years ago and it was with this in mind that Cathy, John’s daughter and his good friend for many years, Pat O’Keeffe felt a Fair Day would be an appropriate way to celebrate his life due to his lifelong passion for farming and his love of attending many different fairs throughout the county and indeed country.
Speaking following the cheque presentation to Kerry Hospice Foundation, John’s daughter Cathy said: “We couldn’t have done it without the incredible assistance of the Castlemaine Events Committee, the farming community, locals, An Garda Siochana, St Joseph’s National School Castlemaine, Sayers Insurance, Castlemaine Community Centre, Department of Agriculture officials, very generous local businesses and the unwavering support from Evelyn and Mary Shanahan of the Kerry Hospice Foundation.
“A huge thank you also to the amazing doctors, nurses and carers who looked after my father so well during his short time in the Palliative Care Unit back in 2020. It was a great pleasure to present the cheque on Saturday evening to the Kerry Hospice Foundation alongside Castlemaine Events Committee and some members of the farming community on behalf of Castlemaine and its surrounding areas.
“I’d like to express my gratitude to all of you that gave very generous donations before, during and after the Fair Day. Your contribution is greatly appreciated. It is impossible to mention everyone as some gave contributions through sponsorship prizes, supplying equipment/entertainment on the day, volunteering, purchasing tickets, donating or bidding at the auction etc so I wish to reiterate that your support is so valued.
“It is the intention that this will now become an annual event as not only does it help raise funds for the wonderful service that the Kerry Hospice Foundation provides, it will also help keep my father’s memory alive. John would be beaming with pride and will be forever proud,” Cathy concluded.
Jack Shanahan, chairman of Kerry Hospice fundraising stated that: “It is great to think that profound human kindness still is alive and well in Castlemaine. Last Saturday evening we assembled in Griffin’s to accept a donation of deep generosity, over €40,000, to Kerry Hospice and Palliative care services.
“The running of a fair day, produced almost totally outdoors, was a perfect example of a community taking a positive action. It was a genuinely good event that reflected the high esteem that the late John O’Donoghue and his family are held. On behalf of Kerry Hospice Foundation, we were delighted to explain that all funds raised in Kerry, stay in Kerry.
“All money raised is spent directly on palliative care and infrastructure, like our inpatient and outpatient units, as well as community services. Currently we are recruiting two advanced nurse practitioners to add to the team. Kerry Hospice Foundation will continue to support the provision of professionally led palliative care services, thanks to the generosity of the people of Kerry.”
