Ballycommon road race organiser gives thanks

The organiser of the recent 'Three Angels' 5k fun run in Ballycommon would like to thank everyone who took part in or helped out with the event, which raised a whopping €4,145 in aid of A Little Lifetime Foundation.

Trish O'Shea recently presented the cheque to A Little Lifetime, along with Hannah Hogan, who raised over €500 in the Zumbathon she held in memory of her little brother, Luke. This was the fourth year of the Ballycommon fun run, held in memory of Trish and Fergal O'Sheas' triplets, who died as babies in 2003.

“Every year we get friends, family, regulars, strangers, walkers, runners, crawlers and wheelers, all in memory of our three girls and your angels,” Trish said. “In the first year we raised €4,840 for the Neonatal unit in Limerick maternity hospital. The last three years we chose A Little Lifetime, a local charity run by great women in Nenagh – Pauline O'Gorman, Eileen Gaynor and Mary Ryan. 

“So far, including this year, we've raised €12,600 for them but only because we have such good help in every job that needs doing. Sometimes people ask me why do we do it for them and they tell me I'm great. I'm not great; I just have great friends, but here's the reason why:

“Over 15 years ago, I found out on my daughter Charlie's first birthday that I was pregnant. The baby was due around the end of September. Then in March, when I went in to hospital thinking I was losing the baby, we found out we were having three... major shock."

Trish was aged 28 when she had the triplets. She was in room 28 of the hospital and gave birth on June 28th. "Jessie arrived first, screaming the place down to let us know she was here," Trish recalled. "Ferg said she was like me! Baby Nikki (Nicole) snook in and waited to be noticed.. a bit like her daddy! Poor Angel was lifted out last as she was stillborn.

"A lot of tears and drugs later, we got to check them all out... Three beautiful baby girls. All perfectly formed. Alas, baby Jessica was not ready for this world and went to join her sister Angelina on journey to Heaven. Baby Nikki, the warrior, fought some great battles and overcame heart surgery in Crumlin."

Sadly, Nikki also died a few days later. "She closed her eyes and drifted off to Heaven to her own flesh n blood, Jessie and Angel, 10 days after they had decided 'twas easier up there." Trish and Fergal have since had two boys, Callie and Joshie.

"It's days like today when I tell my story because I realise how lucky I am," Trish said after presenting the cheque to A Little Lifetime Foundation. "Lots of my good friends and family members never got to meet their babies; many had them for only minutes, hours, days, months and even years, and had to say goodbye. But nonetheless, they are our angels.

"A Little Lifetime helped us back then and are still helping us and others like us. So Thank You all from the bottom of our hearts," Trish said. "See ye all again next year!"