Charities

Denis O'Connor Walk

The third Denis O'Connor Walking Festival took place in Wicklow on Saturday 29 August 2009. The event, organised in memory of the late Denis O’Connor, former managing partner of KPMG, provided an opportunity for people throughout KPMG in Ireland to raise funds for Focus Ireland and Depaul Ireland.

This year’s event follows the great success of the last two festivals which, between 2007 and 2008, helped raise over €129,000 for the South Dublin Junior Arch Club and the Hospice Foundation.

The 2009 Denis O’Connor Walking Festival was attended by 107 KPMG people along with their families and friends. Liam Lynch, KPMG partner and organiser of the event, said, “A huge thank you to everyone who raised funds and participated in the walk this year. It truly is a fitting way of remembering Denis. I think that Denis would be very proud to be associated with this event.” Denis’ wife, Margaret, took part in the event with her four children and said that she was very grateful for Denis to be remembered this way.

The festival comprised two different walks pitched at every level—a 25km walk from Crone to Glendalough and a 10km walk around Laragh. Following the hiking activities, everyone sat down to a carvery dinner, which provided an opportunity for KPMG people and their spouses, partners, family and friends to mark their achievements and remember Denis O’Connor.

A cheque for €25,000 was presented to the CEO of Focus Ireland, Joyce Loughnan, who was delighted at the generosity of all those who gave up their Saturday to become involved. “This donation will cover the costs of hot meals for 150 people per day from now until Christmas.” It is hoped that even more money will be raised over the coming couple of weeks as the sponsorship forms are returned.

The funds raised from the Denis O’Connor Walking Festival will be used in Focus Ireland’s Coffee Shop and Advice & Information Centre based in Temple Bar. In Belfast, Depaul Ireland runs Drive Ahead, an employment-training programme, along with a number of accommodation projects: Stella Maris, a hostel with specialist services for street drinkers, and “Mater Dei” and “Cloverhill”, two housing projects providing supported accommodation for homeless families. The funds raised will be split according to participation from the Dublin and Belfast offices. Both charities provide much needed resources to people who are homeless. Given the current economic climate, more people are succumbing to homelessness, so the needs in this area are great.