Two hugely popular and important Kerry charities this week received over €7,000 each from the proceeds of a very unique book that chartered the lives of people in Killarney during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Pieta House-Nathan’s Walk and the Kerry branch of the Irish Cancer Society were both presented with cheques for €7,100 by Marie Carroll-O’Sullivan who was responsible for the huge undertaking of photographing and interviewing the dozens of people interviewed before she personally published the book, Killarney Behind the Mask, with donations received from local businesses and friends to assist with the very significant costs.
Several members of staff of the Covid-19 unit at University Hospital Kerry have already received VIP gifts, valued at a similar amount in total, as a gesture of appreciation for their commitment during the difficult pandemic days.
At the presentation of the cheques at Eason on Main Street, Killarney, Marie O’Carroll of Pieta House, who is the late Nathan O’Carroll’s mum, said she was delighted to accept the cheque for such a worthy cause that is so close to her family’s hearts.
Picture: Michelle Cooper Galvin
“As the parents of Nathan, we are humbled that Marie Carroll-O’Sullivan chose Nathan’s Walk and Pieta House as one of three beneficiaries from the sales of her book.
“Each year since 2011, in the month of May, we organise the walk in honour of Nathan. The funds raised through this means, and through Marie’s kind donation, will help provide a free therapeutic approach to people who are in suicidal distress and those who engage in self-harm,” she said.
Eugene O’Sullivan of the Kerry branch of the Irish Cancer Society remarked: “Marie Carroll-O’Sullivan keeps giving. During lockdown she was on her bike with her camera photographing people and bringing smiles to their faces.
“She came up with the amazing idea to put photos together and produce Killarney Behind the Mask and she has made the Irish Cancer Society a beneficiary – we will be forever grateful for that,” he said.
Diane Collins Twohig, a Community Garda in Killarney and wife of the late Garda Paudie Twohig, to whom the book was dedicated, along with the author’s parents, described Killarney Behind the Mask as an incredible piece of work and a time capsule that captures the uniqueness of a fantastic town.
“Paudie and I knew the time we had left together was very short. We faced many difficult decisions and challenges as a family but Paudie wanted to make a difference and wanted something good to come from something so bad.
“Killarney Behind the Mask gave Paudie and I a real focus through very tough days and it lifted our spirits.
“From the bottom of my broken heart, I thank the people of Killarney town, the Irish Cancer Society, its supporters and Marie Carroll-O’Sullivan for all that you are and all that you do,” Diane said.
She said Killarney Behind the Mask allows her to put faces to the names of all who touched Paudie and her lives and it will, one day, give their two young daughters the chance to experience the lives their mum and dad lived in the place they loved and they too will get to know the people of the amazing town of Killarney
“Marie Carroll O’Sullivan isn’t just a dreamer – she’s a believer and a doer. Killarney Behind the Mask is an incredible piece of work,” Diane added.
- Copies of Killarney Behind the Mask are still available at Kerry Catering Supplies, Eason, CarryOut and on thelittlememorygallery.com as well as Carrig Road Service Station in Roscrea, Co Tipperary.
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