A 25 year old primary school teacher, Mr Kevin O’Riordan, from Killea, near Templemore, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, has taken on the challenge of kicking points at all 1,616 GAA clubs in the 32 counties of Ireland. His aim; to raise money for the children of Kolkata in India, where he will return again for five weeks during the summer of 2016.
Aided by the co-operation of GAA county boards and local clubs, Kevin begins his daily exercise at about 7.15am and ends at 6.30pm. He began his Kickathon on August 29th last, photographing his presence at every GAA club in which he records kicking a point.
Back in June 2014, Mr O’Riordan qualified volunteering to work with the Froebel/HOPE Partnership to help children in Kolkata, (meaning ‘Field of [the goddess] Kali’.) formerly Calcutta and capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Here exists areas of slum-like conditions similar to that experienced by Mother Teresa. Each evening Kevin watched the children being taught under his care, go back onto the streets begging, with every rupee they received being taken off them by supreme overlords skulking nearby.
Having returned to Ireland, Kevin decided to raise money for the HOPE Foundation. Last August he set off to “Kick a point on every GAA pitch over the 32 counties of Ireland”, as well as seek sponsorship from clubs, supporters and the general public.
As stated, Kevin will return to Kolkata in June and you can follow his progress on KickForKolkata Facebook page, while assisting him in his fund-raising efforts at www.gofundme.com/mgx2b8pm.
Leave a Reply