TURBANS: Nicole O'Brien from Killarney has set up a new business and has donated handmade turbans to cancer patients.

By Michelle Crean

Using her skills and talent, one Killarney local is helping to make women's cancer treatment that little bit easier by donating handmade turbans.

Nicole O'Brien from Killarney has set up a new part-time business after finding a niche in the market.

She said she noticed that turbans for women were hard to come by and so began making them and donating them to the Oncology Unit in University Hospital Kerry (UHK) and also Recovery Haven.

"Unfortunately like most families, my family, and people very close to me, have been affected by cancer," Nicole told the Killarney Advertiser. "My father passed away in 2016 and on the same week my mother was also diagnosed with cancer, but almost five years on after her diagnosis and treatments she is doing very well and is being closely monitored."

She added that it was during this time that she thought about making the turbans as she noticed they weren't easy to come by especially if there was an occasion coming up.

She then set about getting her new business 'Nicole O'Brien Millinery' up and running.

"I have a sewing machine and the skills and wanted to put them to good use. I've already donated to our Oncology Unit in UHK and also the Recovery Haven and the feedback from patients has been amazing. There was great excitement at the hospital when the ladies got them, I was told they're just thrilled with the turbans. I'll continue to donate them every few weeks. I've had many women from all over Ireland contacting me to purchase them. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful staff of UHK especially the Oncology Unit and Palliative Care, they do the most amazing work. This is my small way of giving back, and I hope my turbans will take a little stress away from someone's treatment journey."