Fr Eamonn Kelly to shave beard - after 31 years!

Fr Eamonn Kelly is set to ditch his trademark beard for charity.

Fr Kelly, the parish priest in Raphoe, hasn’t used a razor since the day before Donegal won their first All-Ireland 31 years ago.

His beard will be removed in a public shaving on October 7 next at 2pm in the Diamond, Raphoe.

Since Fr Kelly hasn’t used a razor himself since September 19, 1992, he feels it wouldn’t be ’safe’ for him to remove his beard himself, but his friends have stepped in to help.

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The beard shave is to raise funds for Mary’s Meals, the charity which sets up school feeding programmes in some of the world's poorest communities. To feed one child costs €22 per school year.

A GoFundMe page has been launched to support the event.

Fr Kelly has been a strong advocate and fundraiser for Mary’s Meals. Last year, he donated the proceeds of his 60th birthday to the charity.

The Letterkenny-born cleric released a poetry book, Please Feed a Child, in support of Mary’s Meals in 2021.

The charity helps to feed 2,279,941 children around the world every school day

Last month, he participated in a walk from Thurles to Knock in aid of Mary’s Meals.

“After weeks and months of pleading and appealing from family and friends, Fr. Eamonn Kelly has finally agreed to get the beard shaved,” a spokesperson said.

“In the hearts of Fr. Kelly and his friends are the children waiting to receive a meal each day with Mary's Meals. So putting it all together you are invited to help out and to witness the beard being removed on Saturday 7 October at the Diamond, Raphoe, Co.Donegal at 2pm.

“It will be a time of fun and laughter, a time of joy and thrill, a time of helping feed more children. During this time Mary's Meals hope to feed 200 children for a full school year with Mary's Meals.”