The Fermoy Meet and Greet Friendship Group, along with the Fermoy Hookers, knit blankets that they donate to the Blankets of Hope Cork at Cork Cancer Care Centre.
Before lockdown, the Friendship group used to meet on the first Friday of the month in the Cahill Room of the Fermoy Resource Centre, but the group has not met since February due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Despite the lockdown, one member, Sheila Lonergan, who is 92 years young, went above and beyond by keeping herself busy and continuing to knit the Blankets of Hope for cancer patients.
Sheila’s efforts produced a staggering 13 blankets throughout the lockdown period, which will be donated to cancer patients.
“It kept me busy and helped me to take my mind off things and forget all about the virus,” Sheila said.
NEVER LOOKED BACK
Originally from Castletownroche, Sheila married a Kilworth man, the late Tom Lonergan. A few years ago, Sheila moved to Cluain Dara in Fermoy where she met her friend Madeline, who got Sheila interested in knitting.
When reading The Avondhu one evening, Sheila came across an advert placed by Jacinta McCormack of the Fermoy Community Health Project seeking people to knit blankets for the homeless, and Sheila signed up.
With Jacinta’s advice, Sheila then began knitting for Blankets of Hope too.
Blankets of Hope is an organisation that provides hand-crafted blankets to cancer patients to help them keep warm while receiving treatments or while in hospital.
“My friends were very generous in supplying me with wool. I thank God for the gift he has given me and hope to continue knitting for many years to come,” Sheila proudly stated.
