DONATION: €13,000 has been donated to charity from the 'Margaret O'Connor Memorial Walk'. Pictured from l-r were: Marie O'Connell, Mary O'Donoghue, Pat Doolan, Tom O'Connor, and Paddy O'Sullivan.

By Michelle Crean

Given that restrictions are hampering fundraising at present €13k was a staggering amount which was donated in memory of a local woman recently.

Organisers of the ‘Margaret O’Connor Memorial Walk’ - who say they were blown away by people's generosity - handed over the funds to Kerry Hospice Foundation.

"It's testimony to the family who are very popular and the generosity of the people, especially as people may have lost jobs and businesses at this time," family friend Paddy O'Sullivan told the Killarney Advertiser.

Margaret, from Kilbrean, passed away on August 9 last year. She had been going through treatment for about a year, he explained.

"She was a very active woman in set dancing and she was a great woman for walking. She was very popular. Towards the end of her life she was very well cared for by Palliative Care. Her husband Tom wanted to do something in her memory."

Margaret has in the past taken part in the Old Kenmare Road New Year walk fundraiser but it couldn't go ahead this year because of the restrictions.

Instead they came up with the idea of setting a 10k target asking people to do it in their own family bubbles and to donate to a temporary account set up in Killarney Credit Union.

"Tom was delighted to be able to give something back," Paddy said.

"And without annual fundraisers like Daffodil Day and others it's vital people support these charities. We'd like to thank every for their generosity."