London calling: Community throws party for local hero

IT was the veritable mother of all parties to celebrate a local hero with a heart of gold.

Dan Tim O’Sullivan is a remarkably popular Kerryman who made it big in London, having emigrated as a teenager. But he never forgot where he came from and has always been prepared to help people and worthy causes.

The other night, he went out with his wife, Sheila, and family for what he thought would be a relaxing meal to celebrate his 50th birthday at the Ross Inn, in his native Glenbeigh.

However, he was stunned to find hundreds of happy, familiar faces packed into a marquee all ready to toast him and shoulder him around the room.

“I got the biggest surprise of my life,” he said.

“They kept all this quiet from me. I never expected anything.”

On the bandstand was his favourite singer, PJ Murrihy, and the floor was soon full of dancers waltzing to the local anthem, Wild Flower of the Laune.

It was an emotional occasion for Dan Tim, who wept as people embraced him.

He grew up on a small farm and emigrated to London at 16, worked hard in the buildings and soon set up his own company. He’s now mainly in the employment agency business, with more than 600 people on his books.

Over the years, the father-of-five has helped many Kerry folk get “the start” in England and has also assisted those down on their luck.

“I know of no man who has done more for young Kerry people. He never says no. It’s always yes when people ring him up. He did an awful lot for people in difficult economic times,” said Arts, Sport and Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue, who was at the party.

Also there were former Kerry footballers, Mick O’Connell and Ned Fitzgerald, and MEP Brian Crowley.

One of the organisers, Michael Cahill, said Dan Tim had helped raise funds for Caherciveen Community Hospital and was also a great supporter of the GAA, taking some clubs on all-expenses paid trips to England.

“This man’s generosity knows no bounds. I’d say he has paid for at least 100 funerals. In my opinion, he’s the greatest Kerryman of all time. The party is the people’s way of saying thanks,” added Mr Cahill.

He reckoned that up to 1,000 people attended the party. The community now plans to make their hero a present of a race horse.

Dan Tim has a home near Glenbeigh, still does a bit of farming and commutes regularly to London.

“I had the best father and mother in the world. My mother was an extraordinary woman with a huge heart,” he recalled.