4 year old Kazara Dowling Yates joins Susan Dineen from sponsor Right Price Tiles Anne Hegarty, Enable Ireland Volunteer and Gillian Darrer, Director Services, Enable Ireland Cork, Kerry and Kilkenny, to launch the charity’s annual Lavanagh Ladies Lunch. Photo: Gerard McCarthy

Lavanagh ladies who lunch!

The provost of Trinity College will return to her native Cork next month for a fundraiser lunch.

Dr Linda Doyle will be the guest speaker at Enable Ireland’s Lavanagh Ladies Lunch where she will address 380 women at the event which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The event raises funds for Enable Ireland’s disability services for children and adults in Cork.

Prior to her appointment as Provost, Dr Doyle was a Professor of Engineering and The Arts at Trinity College Dublin. Linda is a native of Togher and attended Togher Girls National School and St Angela’s College. She is an advocate for women in engineering and computer science and has supported initiatives such as Girls in Tech, Teen Turn, and HerStory.

Dr Doyle said: “I am absolutely delighted and honoured to support the Lavanagh Ladies Lunch in this, its 25th year. My mum, Phil, was a volunteer with Enable Ireland so I know all about the commitment of its staff, the dedication of its volunteers, and the fantastic range of services it offers to children and adults.

“Though it has a national reach, Enable Ireland holds a very special place in the hearts of Cork people. I am hugely looking forward to this year’s lunch which will help in the fundraising drive to complete the new children’s centre in Curraheen.”

The sold out event is organised by stalwart volunteer, Mrs Anne Hegarty, and is a huge success every year as Cork ladies turn out in force to support adults and children living with a disability.

She said: “We are honoured that so many friends of Enable Ireland take the time to join us at this annual event. Enable Ireland is on the final stretch of its ambitious target to complete the €7.5m funding for our new children’s centre in Curraheen and I am delighted that this lunch can play a part in helping to reach this goal.”