The families ran the Monagea for CRY fundraising event for a decade

THE ORGANISERS of Monagea for CRY have been named Limerick Person of the Month for the fundraising event that raised approximately €500,000 over the course of its ten year run.

Liam Herlihy and Clare Scanlan collected the award on behalf of the Herlihy family, the O’Donovan Scanlan family, and, as they explained, all their supporters, volunteers, and the people of Monagea, who they insist they could not have done this without.

“It’s titled the Limerick Person of the Month but, and I’m sure I’d speak for Clare and Tom and Marie, we’re accepting this on behalf of the people of Monagea who gave us huge support in the last ten years,” Liam explained.

Liam and Marie Herlihy, Clare and Tom Scanlan, as well as their hundreds of volunteers and supporters, raised over half a million euro for CRY Ireland over the ten years of the annual event.

The fundraiser, as Clare said, “came out of something very sad for both our families”, as the seeds were sown following the sudden deaths of Liam and Marie’s daughter Niamh at only 20 years old and of Clare and Tom’s son Darra at only 15.

Their children, both from the parish of Monagea, passed away mere months from each other in 2011. Their sudden losses were a devastating blow to both their loved ones and the community.

Both families came together in 2013 to create a fundraiser that would raise awareness and funding for the CRY Ireland charity, which had reached out to them in their time of need.

The annual walk, run, and cycle became a staple of the May Bank Holiday weekend for many Limerick people over the decade since its inception.

They emphasised that they could not have done it without their local community, commenting on how amazed they were that people would pay to walk the roads that they could walk for free any other day of the year.

Although they have made the decision to bring the annual fundraiser to an end, they look back on it with pride and gratitude.

They encourage people to continue to support the cause that, as well as supporting families across the country, brought their community together in what will no doubt be a lasting legacy.

The Limerick Person of the Month award is sponsored by the Limerick Leader, media agency Southern, and the Clayton Hotel.