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Welcome to Chapter Seven of the Irish Examiner’s #CoronavirusSolidarity journal.
Each week we will highlight for posterity those stories that capture the unique community spirit of Ireland’s response to the current crisis. Let us know about community initiatives that have been established to offer support to those most affected by the crisis or examples of people who go beyond doing their duty. Tag with us on @irishexaminer and use #CoronavirusSolidarity.
Read Chapter One here.
Read Chapter Two here.
Read Chapter Three here.
Read Chapter Four here.
Read Chapter Five here.
Read Chapter Six here.
Thursday, April 30
Close shave on offer for those who support Clonakilty Community Hospital
Sean O’Riordan
Virtually the entire population of Clonakilty not in cocoons is expected to participate in a variety of sponsored activities this May weekend in an attempt to raise € 10,000 for the local community hospital.
One of the main lights behind the unit has revisited his ‘punk’ roots and already got a ‘mohican’ hairstyle as part of the fundraising effort.
Kevin O’Regan, owner of shoe stores in the city and Skibbereen, received sponsorship for the punk cut of the late 70s and early 80s, which he said “brought back his youth.”
A 9-year-old boy faces an epic challenge for ‘Caballito’ Good Cause!
Nine-year-old James Cunningham from Clontarf in Dublin is preparing to cover 200 km for 12 hours over two consecutive days next week (Sunday, May 3 and Monday, May 4), to raise funds and for the Peter McVerry Trust .
James hopes his challenge will highlight the plight of the homeless, particularly as the country battles Covid-19.
James, who has been riding his bike since he was two years old, chose to take up the challenge after talking to his parents and asking them many questions about where and how homeless people lived and coped during the crisis.
The family chose the Peter McVerry Trust as the charity to donate to the James Cycle, as they admire the work he has done in the past.
They hope that James’ fundraiser will help the less fortunate through a difficult and worrying time for the homeless.
“We are all very proud of James and his decision to do this. James loves to ride a bike. It’s everything he always wants to do, “said James’ father Keith Cunningham.
“He is a sporty kid and he loves all sports, especially running, golf and GAA and rugby, but cycling is his passion and every free second he has is on his bike, talking about his bike or watching cycling in sports channels. ” .
“He has excellent cycling skills and is able to drive 30 to 40 km in one lap without sweating too much. He has been using the small park in front of our house to do his daily exercise due to the 2 km restriction, riding and riding around it up to 50 times a day. “
James is an active member of the Quanta-Scott Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club Youth.
Racing legend Stephen Roche is a former member and James had the pleasure of meeting Stephen at the Giro d’Italia Grande Partenza in Belfast in 2014.
For next week, James will take up the challenge on an indoor coach using a virtual driving simulator connected to a big screen. While you would rather be outdoors and do it on a highway, current circumstances mean having to adjust and it’s a challenge you’re happy to take on for a worthy cause.
“This is an amazing James company and we are delighted to have their support,” said Brian Curtin, Lord Community Fundraiser with the Peter McVerry Trust.
“The funds raised will help ensure that the Peter McVerry Trust can remain open and that we can continue our work.
In 2019, the PeterMcVerry Trust worked with more than 6,184 people and was active in 21 local authorities across Ireland.
Currently, the charity is playing a leading role in the response to COVID-19 to protect vulnerable people in services for the homeless.
James’ entire family will be with him during the challenge, encouraging him with words of support and encouragement.
Her sister Elise will be busy baking brownies and flap jacks this week for the challenge to maintain James’ energy levels throughout the cycle and Benjamin will be in attendance with water bottles and towels.
If you want to make a donation to James’ virtual cycle, you can do so here.
You can also follow his progress on Twitter @ Jamescun2000 or use the hashtag #goJames
Wednesday, April 29
Priest broadcasts on Facebook Live with ‘Mrs Doyle’ to entertain the parish
Evelyn ring
Fr John Kenny has found a fun new way to “be church” during the coronavirus pandemic.
After saying mass, the parish priest of Partry, Co Mayo, heads to his eleven events that he broadcasts live on Facebook.
All dressed up as Mr. Carson of Downton Abbey, and with a cardboard cutout of Mrs. Doyle in tow, he spends about half an hour being silly.
“At 10 o’clock I have my regular mass time and people can tune in. But then, I communicate with people who are not as religiously engaged through Facebook, “said Father Kenny.
90-year-old leads danceathon in aid of the Irish Red Cross and Age Action
Anna O’Donoghue
A historic birthday should never go unmarked, but Kathleen Lynch will have to improvise this year as she turns 90 while locked up.
The Louth woman was planning a 90-minute dance party for a woman in her backyard to celebrate the momentous occasion, but is now asking the rest of Ireland to join her in an attempt to raise funds for charity.
At 3.09pm on Friday, May 1, the exact time Kathleen was born, she is asking the people of Ireland to dance for a minute to help celebrate her birthday and raise much-needed funds for the Irish Red Cross and Age Action.
Kathleen herself will now be dancing on the hour, every hour, starting at 12 p.m. Her husband Donnie, 94, hopes to join her for a waltz during that time.
If you would like to donate to Kathleen’s birthday fundraiser in aid of the Irish Red Cross and Age Action, please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/kathleen-is-giving-it-90
Feed The Heroes campaign delivers over 100,000 meals to critical frontline workers
– Steven Heaney
Feed The Heroes, an initiative created six weeks ago to deliver food to frontline medical staff, has so far delivered 102,000 meals to critical frontline teams across Ireland.
Currently, the campaign offers more than 22,000 meals per week to those fighting the coronavirus.
Deliveries have been made to critical front-line workers at 101 different sites across the country.
Those with meals include hospital testers, contact trackers, laboratory technicians and assistants, and emergency response teams.
To date, Feed The Heroes has helped raise over € 1,066,290, with more than 18,100 people donating to the fund.
Speaking today, Feed The Heroes founder Cian O’Flaherty said: “We have spent over € 600,000 from the fund, delivering over 1,000,000 meals. We would like to thank everyone who has donated, which started as an idea. a few weeks ago it is now a national operation.
💪🏻 We are one 💪🏻
With your donations we are supporting small businesses in Ireland such as @GleesonsPub
For the past six weeks these guys have been working hard #fuellingthefrontline and we are delighted to support them.
Thank you all for donating. This is the impact that they are having pic.twitter.com/YAY7UvfX8a
– feedtheheroes (@ feedtheheroes1) April 28, 2020
“This operation would not have been possible without the generosity of the public, and we want to be here as long as necessary.”
The fund has been prioritizing the provision of meals to ambulance workers, and in the six weeks since Feed The Heroes began, more than 10,000 meals have been delivered to members of the National Ambulance Service (NAS).
“Thank you all very much, this is much appreciated every day.
“NAS personnel, military personnel, and HSE personnel at hot food sites are important to well-being and service support,” said Richard Quinlan of NAS
Paula Birrell of St. Michaels Dun Laoghaire Hospital highlighted the importance of the service and said it provided a much-needed moral boost for front-line workers:
“A big thank you to Naomi’s Kitchen for providing daily nutritious hot meals to the staff at Covid-19 Units at St Michaels Hospital, Dun Laoghaire.
“It really is good to know that someone cares for us when we are busy caring for others.”
Individuals and businesses wishing to make a donation to the Feed The Heroes campaign can do so at www.feedtheheroes.com.
Tuesday, April 28
Tech company donates € 45k to Pieta House
A health services company has announced that it will donate € 45,000 to Pieta while providing assistance to people suffering from mental anguish during the Covid-19 crisis.
Optum, part of UnitedHealth Group, is pledging € 45,000 to Pieta to provide therapy for people suffering from mental distress due to the impact of the coronavirus.
“I am delighted that Optum is able to make this generous donation at a time when people are most affected and charities are struggling to raise funds. Pieta is doing critical work across the country, “said Padraig Monaghan, CEO of Optum Ireland.
Pieta’s Brian McEvoy has welcomed the generous donation.
“Without this, we could not continue to support those who are among the most vulnerable in our society at a time like this.”
“On behalf of the Pieta staff and those who need our services at this time: Thank you.”
The charity says more than 80% of its funding comes from the public and due to the postponement of fundraising events like Darkness into Light, its services are facing “an immediate and devastating financial crisis.”
If you want to make a donation to Pieta, you can do so here.
If you or someone you know is struggling with your mental health, you can contact Pieta at 1800 247 247 or text HELP at 51444.
If you are in a medical emergency, call 999 or 112.
Brothers’ Facebook post helps raise thousands for frontline staff
-Steven Heaney
Two young brothers have raised thousands of euros by creating a Facebook post and a social media campaign featuring Irish healthcare workers as superheroes.
Senan (5 years old) and Jonah Brady (7 years old) from North Dublin posted a photo of “superhero popes” to share their message about front-line heroes on Facebook using their illustrated slogan: “Not all heroes wear capes” .
The post quickly accumulated hundreds of likes and shares shared on social media.
“We had a family conversation about what he really does to a superhero,” said the children’s mother, Ruth.
“And then Senan said, ‘Mom, it’s the people who beat the virus.'”
Jonah compiled a list of people who are doing their part to help the public during the coronavirus blockade, and then the brothers decided to work together to create the image for publication.
“We are so moved that a little bit of craftsmanship at home to pass the hours has turned into something really positive and special,” said Ruth.
– Read the full story about the campaign here
GAA stars to fight in the FIFA20 All-Ireland charity tournament
Stephen Barry
GAA players between counties are ready to resume rivalries in support of frontline workers fighting the spread of Covid-19.
A pitcher or footballer from each of the 32 counties will participate in an Ireland-wide FIFA20 Online Charity Tournament over the bank holiday weekend of May, featuring Rory O’Connor from Wexford, Paddy Deegan from Kilkenny and Conor McCarthy from Monaghan, the first announced competitors.
The eSports tournament also encompasses the direct elimination structure, with each GAA star randomly assigned to a Champions League team to compete with and 1-on-1 games that narrow the field before the final on Sunday May 3.
All the money raised will go to the frontline workers at HSE and NHS across the island.
The creation of disability rights activist and Irish Times columnist Joanne O’Riordan will be carried out in collaboration with the GPA and the Insomnia Dublin Gaming Festival. The leading Irish player community “The Republic of Players” will also participate in the tournament delivery, managing the live broadcast of the matches and the administration of the tournament.
“We want to create an event for people of all ages. We want them to watch the games, enjoy the sport and be part of the experience, “said O’Riordan.
Read the full story here
Monday, April 27
Photographer will record Covid-19 lockdown with ‘Doortraits’ in aid of cancer charity
A Dublin photographer and a cancer charity have teamed up to create what they hope will be a living and continuous monument to Ireland’s response to the Covid-19 crisis.
The project, titled ‘Doors Closed Open Hearts’, is the brainchild of Dublin-based photographer 8 Katie Kavanagh, whose nephew uses the services of the Cancer Support Center, Purple House.
The project aims to create a gallery of 200,000 Doortraits to support the 200,000 people living with cancer in Ireland today.
The public has been asked to get involved by taking a photo of their family at their front door.
They can then send the photo to Purple House via email [email protected] and it will be added to the online gallery.
The charity is asking the public when they take their picture to text PURPLE to 50300 and donate € 4 to help Purple House support cancer patients across the country or visit the gofundme page here
Young Kildare brothers helping in the battle to make PPE
By press association
Two young brothers are helping in the battle to produce more Covid-19 protective gear by helping their father to 3D print face shields.
Ollie Reilly, 13, and his brother George, 10, have produced more than 1,000 mask frames guided by their father, Mick Reilly, technical director of the Trinity College School of Engineering in Dublin.
In response to the urgent public appeal for personal protective equipment (PPE), the university’s engineers have deployed several of their 3D printers to produce face shields for front-line medical personnel.
While access to Trinity is restricted, Reilly brought six of the school’s 3D printers to his home in Kildare.
Ollie, George and Mick have to date produced over 1,000 face shield frames for a PPE facility and another 300 full face shields, which have been donated to front-line medical personnel in hospitals, nursing homes and doctor’s offices throughout Dublin and Kildare.
Mick said: “Having recently established a very successful 3D printing and Makerspace facility in the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering for our undergraduates, it would have been a shame not to use our resources for this initiative.”
The face shield frames are printed according to PPE-Hub protocols, using PLA (Polylactic Acid) and PET-G thermoplastic filament materials, which are 100% recyclable and safe for skin contact.
The visor is made from 250 micron clear PVC clear sheets, which have been donated by Codex Office Solutions.
The complete frames are collected by regional Blood Bikes Ireland volunteers and delivered to a central assembly site at Garryduff Sports Center, Cork, where members of the Defense Forces are disinfecting, assembling and packaging the complete PPE face shields.
Face shields are currently used throughout the community in a number of care settings, including community hospitals, nursing homes, paramedics, drug and alcohol services, community nursing, and other services.
More Trinity 3D printers are planned to be added to the production line to help meet future anticipated requirements.
Residents of Ringsend Apartments participate in a socially distant mass dance
By press association
Around 200 families have participated in a socially distanced mass dance in Dublin.
The spaces were marked eight feet apart, the organizer said.
The event was held at an apartment complex in Ringsend and was the brain of Danika Hopkins and Rebecca Larkin.
Her husband Michael Larkin, 52, said: “It is very important because I have five children and we are locked up like everyone else.
“We’re all fed up, so it’s to entertain our apartment complex.”
A two-kilometer limit applies to the exercise.
Larkin added: “It really is for children and the elderly.
“It is really good for your mental health and well-being.”
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