Limerick sisters rewarded for years of charity
LIMERICK sisters Teresa and Frances O’Keeffe were honoured by Concern Worldwide at a recent award ceremony.
The siblings from Ballingarry received Outstanding Commitment Award medals at the annual Concern Volunteer Awards, which were held at Concern’s Dublin office earlier this month.
“We are very grateful and accept the awards on behalf of the people of Granagh and Ballingarry, who have so generously donated their time and money to help us fundraise,” said Frances, whose work with Concern goes back over three decades.
They have raised over €46,000 from the annual collection and fast that their mother Hannah and her friend Nora O’Keeffe began in 1988 when Frances first volunteered to work with Concern overseas.
Teresa lives in the village and works in the local O’Grady Spar shop where the first collection started.
She now organises the yearly collection with her siblings and Frances has done the fast for several years.
Teresa says people are very generous and love to hear stories about the work that Concern are doing and especially the work Frances has done overseas.
“I would like to thank all the people of Granagh and Ballingarry for their continued support and a special mention to Nora O’Keeffe who helped us for many years,” she said.
Frances’ first time volunteering with Concern was in Bangladesh in 1988 and she has worked in many other countries since for Concern, including Somalia, Rwanda and South Sudan. She served on the board of Concern from the mid 90’s and was Chairperson between 2010 and 2014.
“In all the countries I have worked, Concern works with the people who are the poorest and supports them to improve their lives through their many different programmes,” said Frances.
“I feel very lucky as I have seen first-hand the amazing impact that the money we collect can make to the poorest people in the countries where we work.”
Renowned Limerick brothers, Fr Jack and Aengus Finucane, who are now deceased, were “a great inspiration” to Frances, and indeed many others, to join the organisation, which they led at the time in the 1980s.