Fundraiser in memory of late soldier raises almost €35k

A Halloween costume party fundraiser in memory of the late Tullamore soldier Sam Hayden Kilroe has raised almost €35,000.

Sam passed away in November 2022, and prior to his death he had organised a fundraiser for Dochas Offaly which had helped him and his family during his illness.

The Tullamore man passed away just three weeks after the fundraiser took place last year, but his family continued the fundraiser in Sam's honour this year and have raised a whopping €34,994 in total from the fundraising event this year and in 2022/

Sam attended Ballinamere National School and Killina Presentation Secondary School in Tullamore.

He fulfilled his lifelong wish to join the Defence Forces in 2019 and was a gunner in Athlone - the 2 Brigade Artillery Regiment.

Sam’s sister Sophie Hayden Kilroe told the Offaly Independent that Sam loved Halloween and that he was “such a messer. He’d a great sense of humour.” She stated that there was a “huge turnout” at the event this year and that many of Sam’s army friends were in attendance.

She said that the family will so something to honour Sam every year. She added that it was “incredible” that the money raised is still going up. “I think it’s going to keep steadily going up. It’s incredibly really because it was just under one person’s name (Sam.)”

Dochas Offaly Cancer Support said that Sam’s legacy and spirit was omnipresent at the fundraiser.”

“It was lovely to share with people the impact his fundraising efforts have had on our charity. At present, in the twelve months since Sam organised the first Halloween night, he has raised in excess of €30,000.

“This money is absolutely colossal to a small charity like ours and allows us to continue to expand, to ensure we can continue to provide the supports we provide to people with a cancer diagnosis, their families and friends,” a post on the Dochas Offaly Cancer Support page said.

Sam initially proposed the idea of a Halloween fundraiser event in support of Dochas Offaly which was a huge success last year with Sam raising over €13,000 for the cancer support group.

The late Sam and his mother Hilary attended reflexology sessions by Dochas Offaly. Sophie said: “He just loved the fact that they (Dochas Offaly) cared so much. He liked that fact that they could help Mom, it wasn’t just for Sam.”

Sophie said that Dochas Offaly were “so kind” to her family and that the support group offered them some counselling after Sam passed away because of how much he helped other people. “They’re the kindest people, I couldn’t recommend them enough.” She added that the cancer support group was “beyond grateful” for their fundraising efforts.

She believed that Sam would be “extremely proud” of the family for continuing the fundraiser following his passing.

“I think Sam would be very grateful but I also think he would be taken aback that we’re strong enough to do it after the year that we’ve had.

"Sam loved old music and enjoyed listening to Shania Twain. “He looked like a macho man in the army but he was soft. He was funny and he was very caring, he’d do anything for you.”

To donate to the fundraiser search for ‘Sam Kilroe Memorial Night in aid of Dochas’ on Go Fund Me.