Coosan woman's 'Positive Pegs' initiative raises over €5k for St Hilda's

The 'Positive Pegs' initiative, which local artist Jane Walsh created in Coosan in the midst of the Covid-19 lockdown, has helped raise over €5,000 for St Hilda's Services.

In mid-April, Jane started making distinctive and colourful wooden characters which she would leave for families to discover when they went out for walks along the Coosan loop or on the Bog Road each day.

The project concluded last month with Jane encouraging people to make a donation to St Hilda's Services on a 'Go Fund Me' page.

Everyone who made a contribution was then entered into a draw to win an impressive framed art picture containing some of the most popular positive pegs characters, including Robbie Henshaw, Michael D Higgins, Batman, 'Where's Wally' and Harry Potter.

The fundraiser was a huge success, generating a total of €5,067 for St Hilda's. When the draw for the art piece was made, the winner was Sinead O'Sullivan, who is based in New York and had been following 'Positive Pegs' virtually, with her nephew Sean.

"Sinead has very generously asked for the picture to be donated to Coosan National School so that all the children can see and enjoy it for many years to come," explained Jane.

"I want to say a huge thank you to Sinead, as this really is the perfect ending to the 'Positive Pegs' story. Sinead has received hundreds of comments thanking her for her wonderful, thoughtful gesture."

Jane also said she wished to thank everyone for their support and generosity throughout the Positive Pegs journey, which was a particularly big hit with children in the locality.

PICTURED, TOP: Jane Walsh presents a cheque for €5,067, raised through her 'Positive Pegs' initiative, to Willie Brady, a past chairman of St Hilda's Services, and Sheila Buckley Byrne, CEO of St Hilda's.