Lap the Lough: Hundreds turn out for fundraiser in aid of sick children at popular Cork amenity

People flocked to the Lough on Monday to help line the popular amenity with coins in a bid to ‘Lap the Lough’ and raise money for Cork City Hospitals’ Children’s Club

Darragh and James Horgan from Glanmire placing coins around the Lough for the Lap the Lough fundraising event in aid of Cork City Hospitals’ Children’s Club. Picture: Noel Sweeney.

A fundraiser in aid of sick children saw thousands of coins lined up around the Lough in Cork city during what was a fun day out for the whole family.

People flocked to the Lough to help line the popular amenity with coins in a bid to ‘Lap the Lough’ and raise money for Cork City Hospitals’ Children’s Club.

The charity makes dreams come true for young patients by organising once-in-a-lifetime adventures, sending sick children on trips to Disneyland Paris, and for Santa visits each Christmas.

People were encouraged to break into their piggy banks ahead of the unique charity fundraiser to help line the whole Lough with coins and the people of Cork rallied together to make it happen.

Luke Thompson, Sam Goggin, Kiai Purcell and Teresa Goggin from Deerpark relaxing after helping place a coin around the Lough in Cork City for the Lap The Lough event. Picture: Noel Sweeney.

Not only was a full circle of coins created, but there were sections of two and three layers of coins, thanks to those who came out to support the event which had been organised by former lord mayor Mick Finn, entrepreneur Ernest Cantillon, singer-songwriter Pat Fitzgibbon, chairperson of Cork City Hospitals’ Children’s Club John Looney, and Eimear McCarthy and Emer O’Mahony.

Joey McCarthy from Glanmire placing a coin around the Lough. Picture: Noel Sweeney

John Looney told the Irish Examiner during the event of his delight that so many came out to support the charity.

“It was phenomenal. It was 10 times more than what we ever expected it to be,” he said.

“We started ourselves at about 10am, laying the money that people donated online, so we had nearly €7,500 before we started this morning. We got about three-quarters of the way around the Lough, and then the public took over when they came.

The Lap the Lough event saw children and their families place coins all the way around the Lough in Cork City in aid of Cork City Hospitals’ Children’s Club. Picture: Noel Sweeney.

“They came in throngs and droves. The amount of money they brought was just unbelievable, and they finished off the circle.” 

Mr Looney thanked everyone who was involved in making the event a success, including volunteers from the Cork City Hospitals’ Children’s Club and The Lough Scouts, The Lough Credit Union, the gardaí who were present on the day, facepainters and entertainers, LuLus Café and Supervalu who collected coins for the event, The Hawthorn Bar who allowed use of their toilets on the day, and all who were involved.

Keegan Deasy meets Tigger at the Lap The Lough event where children and their families place coins all the way around The Lough in Cork City. Picture: Noel Sweeney

Organiser Ernest Cantillon described the event as “a big success” and said there were up to a thousand people who came out to support, including families and people who regularly use the amenity, who happened to stumble upon the event.

“We completed the lap much faster than we thought we would. People just came out of nowhere, and suddenly at 11.30am we were halfway around. At stages, we had double and triple layers of coins, so it was very satisfying, a great buzz,” he said.

The coins will be counted over the coming days, and the final amount raised for Cork City Hospitals’ Children’s Club will be revealed.

When asked if they would hold the event again after its inaugural success, Mr Cantillon said they would soon start planning for next year, and Mr Looney said he hopes it will be an annual event and one of their main fundraising events going forward.