This time last year, a couple in Headley’s Bridge wondered if they should continue with their decade long Christmas Crib tradition of raising funds for cancer related charities because of the all embracing concerns surrounding the pandemic.
Eileen and Thomas O’Connor were encouraged by neighbours and friends to carry on in spite of the cloud which hung over Christmas 2020 – and they set a new record of €2,200 for their efforts. This they presented to Comfort for Chemo – the Kerry based charity – which their 2019 efforts also supported.
€100 in 2012 Collection
Eileen and Thomas set up their first crib in 2012 beside their Knocknagoshel home and were please with the €100 they got with little or no publicity.
Because of Eileen’s cancer survivor status and her appreciation and gratitude for the help and service she received, the Chemotherapy Day Ward at University Hospital Kerry was their chosen charity.
On their second year’s collection a single donation of €100 saw them set a new record for that year.
Growing Steadily Over the Years
The addition of a shopping bag of coins worth €33, local donations and the welcome backing of the teachers and children of Scoil Mhuire in the village brought the 2013 total to €700 and it has been growing steadily over the years.
Their 2019 collection totalled €1,700 and this was presented to Comfort for Chemo at the end of January 2020.
Single Donation of €500
The result of their Christmas 2020 collection was set alight by a €500 donation by local man and SSE Airtricity representative, Eamonn Cotter.
This brought them their highest total to date and a new record with a fantastic cheque for €2,200.
“Only for neighbours and friends telling us that we should keep up the tradition last Christmas we weren’t sure if we should put up the crib at all,” said Eileen.
Visits Spread over Day and Night
“Then we thought that it is not something that would draw a crowd all at the same time and we have people making donations at all times of the day and night.
“We think that people are great in the way they support the collection every year and we appreciate every one of them.
“We sent our thanks to all our contributors for last year and to Eamonn Cotter for driving our total past the €2,000 mark for the first time and this has given us great encouragement for the future,” said Eileen.
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