Big-hearted Hayley raises €2k for charity

A big hearted Mullingar child has raised almost €2,000 for charity over the past two years.

During the Easter holidays this year, nine year old Hayley Conlon spent four hours a day knocking on doors to raise funds for the Ronald McDonald House charity. Her efforts certainly weren't in vain as he managed to collect €1,088.

Hayley decided to collect for Ronald McDonald House, which provides support families whose children are seriously ill in Children's Health Ireland, Crumlin, as it this year's chosen charity of Project Fashion.

Established by designer Paul Alexander in 2014, Project Fashion is a platform for teaching children and teenagers valuable life skills, such as sewing. Hayley has attended Project Fashion classes in Gaelscoil an Choillín on Thursday evening for the last two years.

In 2023, Project Fashion's chosen charity was Bumbleance. Hayley, who was in her first year with Project Fashion, raised nearly €800 for the charity, which provides free journeys to medical care for children across Ireland in a safe, secure and fun environment

Hayley's father David said that he and her nanny Mary are “super proud of her”. A student at Gaelscoil an an Choillín, Hayley is also a member of Savage Martial Arts , St Oliver Plunketts Camogie Club and the junior stage school at Mullingar Arts Centre.

Hayley recently celebrated her communion and grew her hair long for the big day. Later this year she intends to get her hair cut and donate it to one of the charities that provide free, real hair, wigs to both children and adults who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or other conditions.

During last summer's Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, Hayley also raised almost €200 for charity by planning the tin whistle on the streets of Mullingar.