Ciarán cuts off 22 inches of hair for charities

A TALLAGHT schoolboy donated 22 inches of his hair to the Rapunzel Foundation last week and raised €3,700 for the Irish Cancer Society in the process.

Pupils from Scoil Santain gathered in the school hall last Thursday to see their classmate Ciarán Kavanagh get 22 inches of his hair cut off to be donated to people experiencing hair loss.

The 12-year-old sixth class pupil from Old Bawn started growing his hair out at age seven, with the aim of eventually donating his long locks to charity.

Ciarán’s mother, Karen Kavanagh, told The Echo: “When he made his Communion, he said to me, ‘Mam, I don’t want to get my hair cut’. He said he wanted to grow it.

“My niece had had a haircut for Rapunzel, so I think that inspired him a bit.”

Ciarán also decided to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society, as he has seen his mam’s involvement in Daffodil Day over the years and members of their family have been touched by cancer.

Ciaran’s Mam Karen holding up his 22 inches of hair that will be donated to the Rapunzel Foundation

“I didn’t put any pressure on him,” added Karen. “If he got sick of doing it, we would’ve got it cut, but he stuck at it.

“He ended up donating 22 inches – and he still has enough hair left to tie it up into a little bun.”

Joanne Kinch from Barber Union in Firhouse came to the school to cut Ciarán’s hair on Thursday morning, and afterwards all of the children in the school received party bags.

Sweets for the party bags were donated by Tony from Breathnach’s Bargains in St Dominic’s Shopping Centre, and he also donated to Ciarán’s Irish Cancer Society fundraiser.

As for Ciarán’s new hairstyle, Karen said her son has adjusted quickly to his new haircut. She also praised the support Ciarán received from his schoolmates.

“He was emotional when it was all done,” she said. “He said it felt funny that the hair was gone, but within a day or two he was fine.”

She added: “The camaraderie in his classroom and the kindness of his classmates blew me away.

“On the day, some of the classes did artwork saying ‘Maith thú Ciarán’ and other children donated some of their Confirmation money.”

The event was an exciting one for the entire school community, as it was the first time the school community had gathered en masse and indoors since the pandemic.

Reflecting on her son’s charitable endeavours, Karen said: “To do something like that, and with such commitment – it’s been six, nearly seven years in the making – to grow his hair for that length of time and then cut it off for charity, we’re very proud of him.”

Karen added that she wanted to thank Ciarán’s classmates and teachers in Scoil Santain, and Union Barbers in Firhouse, for their support.