Ready to go: Family members of the late Connie Fitzgerald to the fore for the start of the annual 5K walk in his memory in Currans on Sunday morning. Included are: Siobhán Coffey, Maurice, Megan, Ciara, Kay and Luke Fitzgerald and many friends. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Local man, Brian O’Shea with ‘Bosco’ heading to the start of the annual Connie Fitzgerald Memorial Walk in Currans on Sunday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Gathering at their local community hall for the annual Connie Fitzgerald Memorial Walk in Currans on Sunday morning were: Donie Culloty, Charlie Daly, Neil and Mary Daly. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Mary Murphy, Templeglantine (left) with her neice, Anne Marie Myers, Cordal pictured at the annual Connie Fitzgerald Memorial Walk from Currans Community Hall on Sunday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Minding the hall: While the walkers are away on the annual Connie Fitzgerald Memorial 5k Walk on Sunday morning in Currans, Joan McCarthy, P.J. Murphy, Jack Ahern, Jack Scanlon and Neilie Shanahan were the custodians of the community hall. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Locals, Sheila Lyons and her pal ‘Billie’ with Maurice and Ann Fitzgerald at the start of the annual Connie Fitzgerald Memorial Walk from Currans Community Hall on Sunday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
The Connie Fitzgerald Memorial 5K Walk organiser, Kay Fitzgerald (right) with her team members in preparations for the return of the walkers at Currans Community Hall on Sunday morning. Included are Sheila Quinlan, Mary Daly, Joan McCarthy and Kay. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Knocknagoshel couple, Anne and Colm Keane took part in the annual Connie Fitzgerald Memorial Walk from Currans Community Hall on Sunday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Ella Fitzgerald, Currans (left) pictured with her exchange student friends: Laurine Barré, France and Annika Rothe from Austria were about to take part in the annual Connie Fitzgerald Memorial Walk from Currans Community Hall on Sunday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Eileen and Denis Courtney, Killarney were in Currans on Sunday morning for the annual Connie Fitzgerald Memorial Walk. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Breda Moynihan with ‘Lacey’ and Pat Kennedy, Farranfore were in nearby Currans for the annual Connie Fitzgerald Memorial Walk on Sunday morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy
The rain which engulfed the Maine Valley on Sunday morning somehow spared the village of Currans from its ire.
There, from the gathering point at the local community hall, family members and friends of the late Connie Fitzgerald arrived for the third annual 5k memorial walk in his honour and memory.
The proceeds of the previous two walks have gone to a worthy and carefully considered charity recipient.
Close on 200 people and several dogs on leads gathered on an imaginary starting point on the road outside the hall and took off on their hike of altruism around roads the parish.
Kay and her Catering Team
In the meantime, the business of catering for the return of the walkers was in full swing in the hall itself under the supervision of the Connie’s wife, Kay and her team.
The fine morning meant that people could sit at tables outside the compact building and give the caterers a bit of elbow room inside.
As always with events like this, a flood of funds come directly on the day while more will trickle in over the coming weeks.
BRÚ Columbanus to Benefit
Last August a presentation of €4,212 was made to the Kerry Hospice Foundation by the Fitzgerald family in the wake of the second annual walk.
Connie Fitzgerald died from cancer on January 25th. 2020.
“The memorial walk is a fitting tribute to Connie, who is fondly remembered and was very popular with the people of Currans and surrounding areas,” said an event spokesperson.
All funds raised from Sunday’s walk will be presented to BRÚ Columbanus, which provides home from home accommodation for families of patients in Cork hospitals and the Fitzgerald family members are very grateful to the charity for the support they received during Connie’s time in Cork University Hospital.
You can contact The Maine Valley Post on… Anyone in The Maine Valley Post catchment area who would like to send us news and captioned photographs for inclusion can send them to: jreidy@mainevalleypost.com Queries about advertising and any other matters regarding The Maine Valley Post can also be sent to that address or just ring: 087 23 59 467.
