By Marie Carroll-O’Sullivan

Not content with a hat-trick, Betty O’Farrell went for four in a row on Thursday last as she once again selflessly donated her hair to charity.

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FOUR IN A ROW: Hairdresser Triona O’Shea pictured with Betty O’Farrell who cut her hair for the fourth time for the Rapunzel Foundation. Photo: Marie Carroll-O’Sullivan

Hairdresser Triona O’Shea is ready to cut Betty O’Farrell's hair for the Rapunzel Foundation. Photo: Marie Carroll-O’Sullivan

I was tipped off by restaurant owner Johnny McGuire, husband of the ever giving Betty O’Farrell, who sat next to the equally charitable Triona O’Shea, at Ruby Tuesdays, as they discussed Betty’s 12 inch quota to suffice the partial make up of one child’s wig through the Rapunzel Foundation in Waterford.

Once confirmed, the conversation drifted to Betty and her sister’s recent appearance on TG4 ‘as gaeilge’ ar Cois Mhuire, to that of Triona O’Shea’s daughter Ashten’s up coming appearance on First Dates Ireland in the coming weeks.

Equally supporting the Rapunzel Foundation in Waterford, these ladies are somewhat pros!

Hairdresser at Ruby Tuesdays, Triona, has been offering this service free of charge to the wider community in Killarney for over 20 years now. The requirements are specific in that each plait must be 12 inches between each band, it must be in good condition and not coloured, permed, highlighted, bleached, or dreadlocked. The Rapunzel Foundation gather braids from all over Ireland and ship to New Zealand where the hair is made in to wigs. Depending on the size and density, it will take between five and 25 ponytails to make one hair piece.

“Betty is an amazing lady,” Triona said.

“It’s a new record for me. Betty has now set the bar at four for the number of times she has donated her hair to the Rapunzel Foundation which is truly amazing. Laura Sheehan, Rathmore is a close second, donating her locks three times to date. People are great!

Betty explained that it has taken between two and two and a half years to grow the 12 inches leaving her with a bob hair style each time.

"I love swimming so it needs to be long enough to tie back," she said.

"I have visited Triona twice on High Street and twice at Ruby Tuesdays. The first time on High Street was with my son Frank, who at the time, also donated 12 inches of his hair to the Rapunzel Foundation,”

Dealing with illness down through the years, I could see how important it was to Betty to donate.

“It might be the last time I donate as I believe grey hair is not acceptable,” Betty laughed.