Locals in Kilkenny and Carlow raised €20,010 (and counting) for the homeless by taking part in the KCLR Garden Olympics. The money raised will fund support services for families who use the Good Shepherd Centre’s (GSCK) services for the next eight months.

“Families are under a lot of stress with Covid-19 and it’s put fierce hardship on people. People are finding it difficult and the fact they had a little bit of room left to think of us, and to raise €20,000 is just incredible,” said Manager of the GSCK Noel Sherry.

“The people of Carlow and Kilkenny are a very generous people but I’m particularly overwhelmed that during such a difficult time, they have helped us.”

A host of VIPs, sports stars – including Kilkenny hurling manager Brian Cody – and most of all, ordinary people, were put their paces in their back gardens as part of the initiative. Well-known Kilkenny business Fran Grincell also relished the challenge by kicking a ball outside his home every night for a fortnight to raise vital funds.

“To everyone who spinned and binned, to every egg and spoon champion and every keepie uppie queen out there, thank you,” said KCLR 96fm’s Head of Content Eimear Ní Bhraonáin.

Eimear added: “We are super proud of our team at KCLR 96fm and our incredible listeners. We know that services like those provided by Noel Sherry and his team will be under more pressure because of the pandemic – and we need their help more than ever.”

FOR MORE INFO: Noel Sherry, Manager GSCK, 087-122 5967 / Eimear KCLR 086 02 00016