The 27 heads and beards to be shaved on the night, pictured before the chop at the Head Beard and Dye Shave in The Bridge Canningstown on Saturday night, organised by Geraldine Clarke (front centre) and her family. They praised the fantastic support from local community and businesses with all moneies raised going to Bailieborough Cancer Comfort.8PHOTOS: ALEX COLEMAN

Massive Movember raises €40,000 for local cancer charity

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The 27 heads and beards to be shaved on the night, pictured before the chop at the Head Beard and Dye Shave in The Bridge Canningstown on Saturday night, organised by Geraldine Clarke (front centre) and her family. They praised the fantastic support from local community and businesses with all moneies raised going to Bailieborough Cancer Comfort.8PHOTOS: ALEX COLEMAN Alex Coleman.

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Melissa Higgins wields the clippers on the beard of local councillor and publican Adrian Rogers. Alex Coleman.

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Finbar Smith can still manage a smile as Catriona Flood sets to work with the clippers. Alex Coleman.

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Laura Johnston and Eimear Brady. Alex Coleman.

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Claire Higgins, Elaine Higgins, Michelle Lambe and Marcella Higgins. Alex Coleman.

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Seated (from left) Dermot O'Brien, Sean Smith and Matthew Donnellan; back, Darren Higgins and Kieran Sheannon. Alex Coleman.

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Emma McMullen and Ciara Denning. Alex Coleman.

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Sinead Cox, Ciara Cassidy, Glenn Cox, Aine McGee and Fergal Furey. Alex Coleman.

Nicole McDermott

Published: Sat 6 Dec 2025, 8:05 AM

Having died them bright pink, some men were glad to see their beards go. Last weekend, 30 men shaved their beards as part of a massive Movember fundraising event in Canningstown that included an auction and raffle. By the time the paper went print, the organisers were still counting up the funds, but estimated around €40,000 had been raised.

“I am overwhelmed,” said a near speechless Geraldine Clarke, chairperson of the Knockbride Variety Show and organiser of the fundraising event in the Tavern. “I thought, if we get eight or 10 lads to take part and raise about 10,000 that would be great.”

On Monday afternoon, the sponsorship cards were still coming in and the online gofundme was still ticking numbers.

“I am sure we will be hitting the 40,000 mark,” she said delightedly.

The money was raised for Bailieborough Cancer Comfort, a cause very close to many hearts in the community. “I have used this valuable service myself. Some days they have five cars to drive people to appointments – that shows the demand.”

This service is confidential and free of charge to cancer patients attending doctors, so the service relies on donations.

Four women from Angie’s Hairdresser’s in Bailieborough took on the task to shave the long, well-groomed beards. “It is a wee bit cold now,” said Adrian Rogers jokingly afterwards - but nothing a scarf couldn’t fix.

The publican of the Bridge Tavern was one of the 30 men who lost their facial hair for the good cause. He was happy to see the event go so well. “There was great support from the whole community in and around Canningstown.”

Geraldine also expressed her gratitude to all the businesses for contributing spot prizes to the auction and raffle: From round bales, to premier league match tickets to a bicycle – there were plenty of prizes to everyone's liking.

“People were so generous,” said Geraldine who is thankful to be able to give back to the Cancer Comfort service. The final cheque will be handed over in the new year.