Kinsale school rallies round for Ciara's family

THE staff at Kinsale Community School have truly rallied round to help the family of Ciara O’Brien, following her fall from the roof of the Moorings nightclub in the town at the end of August. 

While Ciara’s parents, Pauline and Michael were at her bedside in hospitals in both Cork and Dublin following her accident, the school offered to help her two siblings who were returning to school after the summer holidays.

‘Returning to school for any family after the holidays is normally mayhem and we just told Pauline that we would help with transportation for them to school and provide them with lunches too while she was at the hospital with Ciara,’ said Fergal McCarthy, principal of Kinsale Community School speaking to The Southern Star.

Last Friday both students and staff once again showed their generosity when they raised over €25,000 for Ciara’s Fund after completing a fundraising walk around the outskirts of the town.

‘Kinsale Community School is rooted in a sense of kindness and last Friday’s event was testament to that where you had first years walking along with sixth years all wanting to raise as much money for Ciara. People described last Friday as the “best day the school has ever witnessed” and there was high praise for everyone who got involved in the fundraising walk.’

Ciara is currently in the National Rehabilitation Clinic in Dun Laoghaire, where she is undergoing treatment for spinal injuries which she sustained in the fall, and she will require the use of a wheelchair.

‘This has been a life-changing event for Ciara and the financial implications are huge, as things like cars will have to be changed, doors will need to be widened and stair lifts installed. Ciara is doing well and she’s learning to adjust as well.’

A number of other fundraising events are being organised by locals over the coming weeks and months and ‘The Ciara O’Brien Trust Fund’ is now open and operational, A/C no: 1128009, Sort Code 934089.