Laois businesswoman and farmer to 'brave the shave' in aid of Cuisle Cancer Support

A Laois woman is holding a fundraising night next month where she is going to bravely shave her head in aid of the wonderful services provided by Cuisle Cancer Support Centre.

Lisa Walsh, from Culohill in Laois, owns her own beauty salon in Laois but she also farms beef and sheep with her father James, admitting sheep are her true love. The farm produces the very popular Cullohill grass fed lamb.

Lisa admits she is not the slightest bit nervous for the upcoming shave as she is doing it in honour of her beloved grandmother Lillie Oxley, even joking that "Her daddy will get the son he never had."

It was only after an accident on the farm led to Mrs Oxley being diagnosed with Breast cancer. 

Lisa said spoke to the Leinster Express Laois Live about the event.

"Granny suffered from breast cancer with a mastectomy, she was milking cows and was kicked by a cow, leading to granny finding a lump which she might never have found only for the farm accident.

"With treatment and the support from family friends and the services of the Cuisle Centre she concurred her battle. 

Lillie Oxley, from Collnabacca, Timahoe, sadly passed away in 2021, so Lisa wanted to do something to give back to the Cuisle Centre.

On making the decision, Lisa said she has met two lovely ladies in the centre one day while visiting, who had unfortunately lost their hair after undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Lisa recalls seeing how beautiful these ladies were, wearing their headscarves, that she later went to her car and "couldn't stop crying".

She said this moment was what "steamrolled" her decision to take the plunge and shave her head, while hopefully raising some vital funds for this invaluable service in Laois.

Niall Kavanagh is the Chairperson of the Laois Cuisle Centre board. He thanked Lisa for making the 'sacrifice' of shaving her hair to raise funds for the service. He said money raised by Lisa and the many other people who run events and donate is important to a service that helps people with cancer and their families through the journey with their illness at no charge.

“The funds are certainly needed because the running costs are over €300,000 a year,” he said.

Mr Kavanagh also believes that the event Lisa has organised reflects well on Cuisle Centre services.

“It is a vote of confidence by people who have used or are aware of the service provided to the community. The funds follow the service and there is no pressure on anyone to raise funds. All our fundraising is organic.

“The funds raised allows the board to concentrate on the running of the service knowing that the goodwill generated from those services ensures a stream of income from fundraisers around the county,” he said.

"Time for a Shear" will take place on Saturday, March 1, 2025, in the Castle Arms Hotel in Durrow, and there will plenty of entertainment, food and giveaways on the night including golf vouchers, beauty hampers and much more.

Lisa has already raised an incredible €5250 and is hoping for more cash donations on the night for this wonderful service.

The live head shave is expected to happen around 9.30pm on the night with services provided by Joan Carroll from Inch Hairdresser Urlingford and great support from the Castle Arms Hotel, Joan and Seosamh Murphy for hosting the night.