Local Faces: Ann O’Donnell

ON SUNDAY, June 4, the 40th annual VHI Women’s mini marathon will take place on the streets of Dublin.

The 10 kilometre run which has been going since 1983, and is the largest women’s event of its kind in the world, draws spectacular numbers of participants every June bank holiday.

In 2014, an incredible, record 41,000 women took part. Indeed, an incredible 1.1 million competitors have entered the event since its inauguration.

For a good many of those years, Ballyfermot woman Ann O’Donnell has been cheerfully jogging along and raising everyone’s spirits and much needed funds for her chosen charity, Our Lady’s Hospice in Harold’s Cross.

Her involvement with the hospice goes back to the year 2000, when a very close friend and neighbour of hers became terminally ill and needed palliative care.

“I was struck by the wonderful and selfless work the people at Our Lady’s do under such difficult circumstances,” Ann tells me.

“From that day, I knew that any fundraising I did would be for Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services. I’ve never looked back.

“The way I felt that first day – it has stuck with me.

“Since then, I have been involved in Mini Marathons, Sunflower Days and Light Up A Life.

“You always have wonderful chats with people and get to hear their stories.

“Actually, only a month ago, my sister-in-law had hospice care at home.

“Eventually she needed in-patient care, and she died in the hospice.

“She couldn’t have asked for anything more.

“To think it’s all made possible by public generosity is really inspiring.

Ann O’Donnell will be running in the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon on June 4, in aid of Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross, Her last comment to us was “just make sure you give the charities a bit of publicity”

“I hope people will join us this year, by taking part or by donating.

“Day by day, kilometre by kilometre, step by step, euro by euro, we can all do our bit,” she added.

At the time of writing, Ann has raised an incredible €21,400 through her runs and she doesn’t plan to slow down any time soon.

It’s worth noting at this point, although it seems impolite to do so, that Ann is doing all of these runs and putting the rest of us to shame at the age of 77.

“I go and visit some of the elderly people of the area every week and sure, I’m elderly myself!” she laughs.

The charitable works that she carries out for her community are many and varied, but Ann is extremely modest about it.

“I don’t really want to go on too much about myself,” she says, “just as long as the charities get a good mention, I’ll be happy.”

Originally from Patrick’s Well in Co. Limerick, Ann knows a thing or two about the struggles that many people go through in life.

“My mother raised three of us on her own, as my father left us when I was a baby,” she tells me.

“When I tell you we were left with nothing, it’s no exaggeration, we had absolutely nothing.

“My Mother did absolutely everything for us and we were very lucky to also have her brother, my uncle, who helped us out whenever we really needed it.

“I never forgot the hard times and from then on, my ambition in life has always been to help and share with people.”

Ann married her husband Rory, a Dub, in 1974 and in that same year, they moved to the Drumfinn area of Ballyfermot.

“Best move we could have made,” she says.

“I love Ballyfermot and I’ve made so many wonderful friends over the years here, I’d never dream of moving.”

Ann reared her six children, three boys and three girls in Ballyfermot and they’ve all grown up and left the nest now.

“It’s just the two of us now, although poor Rory must wonder if he’s still married to me because I’m always out doing something,” she says.

Ann is also the proud grandmother of no less than fourteen grandchildren ranging in age from one to twenty-seven.

Apart from her family, Ann’s greatest passion is the running.

“It’s fantastic exercise obviously, but the real joy is all the people you meet along the way.

“I’ve been a member of Waterstown Warriors running club in Palmerstown for many years,” she tells me.

“We go out in all kinds of weather, nothing stops us.

“We’re always getting ready for the next big event.”

Ann tells me she’s not the only senior lady involved either.

“I always run with my two pals, Jean and Ann.

“We run on a Saturday morning and then we go for breakfast.

“We always have great fun,” she says.

It’s not only mini marathons that Ann runs.

She’s done the Dublin City Marathon several times, completing the twenty six mile course in an impressive six hours.

Ann’s positive attitude and energy are quite amazing and it’s good to know we have people like her in our communities.

Naturally enough, in her own modest and self-effacing way she doesn’t see her work as any big deal and she tells me “just make sure you give the charities a bit of publicity”.

Ann O’Donnell will be running in the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon on June 4, in aid of Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross.

Don’t be surprised if she wins it.