Brave Danny to be remembered at Christmas swim

BY EMMA CONNOLLY 

A CALL has gone out to make this year’s Christmas Day swim in memory of a Carrigaline teen who lost his battle with leukaemia, the biggest yet. 

The swim is in memory of  Danny Crowley who sadly passed away after a long battle with the disease in November 2013. 

Since then, over €41,500 has been raised for the The Mercy Kids + Teens Appeal appeal by a dedicated group of his family and friends through the annual Carrigaline Christmas Day Swim, as well as a Fun Walk in April 2014.

Danny spent all his summers in Drinagh growing up, where his mum, Majella, was from originally. ‘We would spent a lot of time down there,’ she told The Southern Star. ‘Some of Daniel’s favourite things in West Cork were farming on his uncle Pat Joe Cronin’s farm in Drinagh, kayaking in Lough Ine, and jumping off Ballylickey pier.’

The first Christmas swim was organised by his friends from Carrigaline Community School in December 2013 and it saw 40 swimmers taking the plunge. In 2014, 73 people took part, and 2015 saw 146 people take the plunge, while last year’s swim was the biggest to date with almost 250 brave swimmers.  

This Christmas Day, a group of students from Carrigaline Community School, along with their families and friends will once again meet at 10.30am at Myrtleville Beach and take to the water in memory of their friend, Danny. 

Sponsorship cards will be at the special Remembrance Tree in Barry Collins SuperValu ahead of the swim, from December 1st-3rd.

Cards are also available from Mano Mano Barber Shop, Main Street, Carrigaline from Jennifer Kelleher or any member of the Crowley family. For those not brave enough to chance the water on Christmas Day, donations can be made in the collection buckets at the Remembrance Tree and in Mano Mano. 

Deborah Lonergan, member of the organising committee said: ‘We want this year’s Christmas Day Swim to be our biggest and best yet, and we’re inviting people to show their support in whatever way they can.’

The Mercy Kids + Teens Appeal aims to raise funds to benefit crucial areas of The Mercy’s paediatric services including bereavement counselling, support for children, and support for education. Funds raised through the swim will also go to the Mercy Hospital Children’s Leukaemia unit, where Danny spent a significant amount of time when having treatment in 2013.

Deirdre Finn, Community & Events Fundraiser, the Mercy Hospital Foundation said: ‘We promise to do our very best to provide you with a world class hospital, right on your doorstep, and this is only possible through the help of our supporters and donors who continue to honour Danny’s memory in this very special way.’

For sponsorship cards or to make a donation to the charity swim, visit the Danny Crowley Remembrance Tree from December 1st to 3rd in Barry Collins’ Supervalu, Carrigaline, call into Mano Mano Barbers in Carrigaline, or call Deborah on (086) 3739135.