Close shave for Kilkenny men with women Gaelic footballers!

A century’s worth of beards and moustaches are set for the chop as a Kilkenny community play their part for women’s sport.
Nine men will take on a fresh-faced look for 2019 when they come together for the Tache4Cash fundraiser in the Set Theatre next month.
The hair-raising plan was devised as a way to drum up financial support for Dunnamaggin Ladies Gaelic Football Club.
Like every club the Dunnamaggin footballers need assistance to provide the best environment to support all their 180 members. As well as training gear they also need to fund session resources, mentor training and to improve facilities. All are key elements in setting players up for success in life.
While some people associate success with winning, for Dunnamaggin the word brings a very different result.
“In Dunnamaggin we strive to support our members, no matter the result,” said Gervase O’Connell, club chairman. “We gauge our success on a variety of factors including the enjoyment level of the girls at training, the size of the smiles leaving the training pitch and most importantly the number of girls who stay with us year in year out.”
There are many men involved with Dunnamaggin LGFC, with plenty determined to show their support when it comes to keeping the females of the community in sport.
The men have put their necks (and faces) on the line by volunteering for the Tache4Cash shaving event, which will be held in the Set Theatre, Langtons on Friday, February 1.
“We are doing this to support our daughters and wives in sport,” said club mentor Sean Ryan, whose three daughters play for Dunnamaggin. “This event will highlight how important it is to support any fundraising for ladies sport.”
Eight other local men have also agreed to either grow - or mow - their facial hair to raise much-needed funds for the club.
Joining Sean , who has had his signature moustache for over 30 years, will be Jim McCormack, Owen Harrison and Ken Cogley, who have had their facial hair for varying lengths of time, from four to 40 years.
Five men involved - Cllr Matt Doran, Joe Sheridan, Bob Moore, Jim Fallon and Seamus Knox - have all been growing facial hair since November and will also be shaved on the night.
The festivities, which start at 8.30pm, will get underway with music from After Dark, one of Ireland’s best party bands. This will be followed by the shaving event, with MC Edward Hayden, and followed by a DJ until late.
Tickets for the Tache4Cash fundraiser are €10 and are available at the door on the night, online at Set.ie or from the shops and pubs in Dunnamaggin, Kells and Kilmoganny. A Facebook page, facebook.com/tache4cash, has also been set up for donations.