Global executive donates €50,000 to his old Kinsale school

A high-flying executive in one of the world’s largest companies touched down in his home town yesterday to donate €50,000 to a school, putting it on track to become the fittest school in Ireland.

Shane Fitzsimons, a senior vice-president of global giant GE and who attended secondary school in Kinsale, Co Cork, in the 1980s, urged the students of Kinsale Community School to focus on their health as he handed over the cheque to fund the development of a floodlit running track around its all-weather pitch.

Just weeks before he leaves the multibillion-dollar company to pursue other interests, Mr Fitzsimons, 50, told the student body, which includes his nephew, David, in fourth year, and niece, Lucy, in second year, that he loves running — he is set to run his second New York marathon next month and the Scottish 10k and half marathon next weekend.