Clara firefighter's 'small world' encounter on charity cycle

Clara firefighter Philip Keegan recently undertook a charity cycle featuring retained firefighters from Ireland and firefighters from New York.

The charity cycle travelled 360km from Dublin to Kinsale, finishing on September 11 at the county Cork based 9/11 garden of remembrance.

It raised funds for two charities, Aoibheann's pink tie, an Irish children's cancer charity, and the New York firefighters 9/11 fund in America.

A total of 343 firefighters lost their lives in the twin towers tragedy on September 11 2001.

During the journey Brian Kelleher, one of the New York firefighters mentioned to one of the Irish firefighters that he had relatives in county Offaly. The Irish firefighter introduced him to Philip.

Philip asked him whereabouts in Offaly his relatives were from, Brian answered that they were the Hall family from Clara.

He shared that they were located in Church street, Raheen and The Green, housing estate.

The Offaly officer asked him if he was related to Jennifer Bastic (nee Hall) who lives in The Green, and Brian said he was, and asked Philip if he knew her.

"I said 'Do I know her? She lives two doors away from me, if I look out my front window I can see her house' - it's a small world," Phillip said.