WHERE in the world would you find a rural community that could come up with €1.6million for cancer research and other charitable donations?

The answer is Caheragh in West Cork, which happens to be the second-largest parish in the country, as it includes the area between Drimoleague and Ballydehob, and Skibbereen and Bantry.

It is here, in this parish, that the lion’s share of the money raised as part of the Caheragh Annual Threshing and Vintage Day has been donated to Breakthrough Cancer Research.

The research facility was founded by the late Prof Gerry O’Sullivan, a native of the parish, who passed away in 2012.

This year, the Caheragh Threshing Committee made a record six-figure donation, amounting to €103,000, to Breakthrough Cancer Research, Cancer Connect and Caheragh National School.

The proceeds of this year’s event, which was held on October 12th, was presented to the organisations at the Traveller’s Rest on November 29th, and it gave the committee an opportunity to review its success to date.

Mary Cadogan, the organisation’s PRO, said that although BCR is always the main beneficiary, innumerable charities, organisations, hospitals, schools and community projects have benefited when the funds are paid out each year.

The ability to raise €1.6million since it was formed in 1999, and be on target to reach the €2million mark within the next four years, has been attributed to the generous spirit of the 800 households in Caheragh, which represents a population of approximately 3,000 people.

Great credit is due to the small but hard-working committee composed of Kathleen Kirby secretary, DJ Dineen chairperson, Majella O’Shea and Shane Scully treasurers, and all of their colleagues, who organise 12 or 13 flag days that cover an area from West Cork to North and East Cork.

A lot of organisation goes into these flag day fundraisers, but for everyone the highlight has to be the threshing event itself because there are so many stalls, food trucks, games and events, both traditional and novelty that entertain the whole family.

A lot of money is made on the day because everyone involved does it for charity, while those in attendance generously drop donations in buckets and buy tickets for great prize draws.

The commitment to Gerry O’Sullivan’s vision is shared, to this day, by his wife, Breda, his daughter Orla Dolan, his son Eoghan and Eoghan’s wife Breda.

At the recent presentation, Orla outlined details of a new project that Breakthrough Cancer Research is co-funding with Research Ireland, led by Dr Andrew Lindsay in UCC, investigating Glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive brain cancers, which claims over 200,000 lives worldwide every year.

She also shared how meaningful it is to have Caheragh support her late father’s vision and made the point: ‘Progress has come from research.’

She noted the number 220,728, saying it is the number of Irish people who are cancer survivors today. ‘That is a number we want to grow and with the continued support of the Caheragh Threshing we know we will.’

Friends, neighbours and what Mary describes as ‘the wider cancer family’, namely every individual and family in the locality that has had direct experience of it, have rowed in behind it the annual fundraisers too.

By re-introducing an old-style threshing day in the heart of their community, the committee have also organised one of the most popular, traditional events in West Cork’s calendar of events.

Orla Dolan and DJ Dineen at the recent presentation.

The first donation in 1999 amounted to €7,000, which was considered a lot of money at that time, but the figures are rising exponentially, largely due to the success of the event.

It opened this year with a parade led by a lone piper Donal Kelleher, followed by the Cobh Animation Team with people dressed in traditional clothes. But to the delight of the children in attendance it had Mickey and Minnie Mouse and Peppa Pig.

The Scoil Rince Carney dance school was a welcome addition this year, as well as the attendance of several successful sports teams. Caheragh Scout Group were in action on the day, and Mary told The Southern Star: ‘It was really great to have all the children come out and be a part of the festivities.’

Success breeds success, so the number of vintage tractors, cars and lorries, as well as a combine harvester, and some vintage bikes, grows each year.

‘People travel miles to get here,’ said Mary, who believe simple events, such as the many ‘guess the weight’ competitions, the wellington throwing, bowl pitching, rings, sandbag throwing, are what make it such fun.

Mary said there are, with all community events, too many people to thank personally, but to the people who provided the shuttle service to the central field, organised the wonderful dog show, and the threshing demonstrations themselves, she said they are owed a debt of gratitude.

The organisation’s AGM will be in March and Mary said they would like to encourage new members to attend and get involved.

‘Our team is small, but close-knit,’ she said. ‘We work well together, all with the same goal of supporting cancer research and care. And we do this with the support of all of our sponsors, contributors and helpers who made this year, and every year, such a success.’