On Tuesday 19th September Shane Fitzsimons, together with his parents Garry and Anne Fitzsimons, officially unveiled the state of the art facility ‘Fitzsimons Park’ at Kinsale Community School in the presence of the entire school community.  

Shane Fitzsimons, son of Garry and Anne Fitzsimons, is the Vice President of General Electric and is a native of Kinsale.  Shane attended Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Secondary School in Kinsale prior to the amalgamation of the two second level schools in Kinsale and the establishment of Kinsale Community School.  Shane has been a long-time supporter of the school and he has previously made very generous donations to the school through the Kinsale and District Lions Club.  These donations have always been targeted at ameliorating disadvantage.

Shane was delighted at the way that Kinsale Community School has evolved and he is particularly taken with the emphasis that the school is placing on health and well-being through the development of facilities such as the running track and the all-weather pitch.  When addressing the students yesterday during the pitch naming ceremony Shane referenced the importance of physical fitness and he highlighted that ‘an eight year old child will have consumed more sugar than his parents’ generation consume in their lifetime’.  Shane commended the school on its vision and presented a cheque to Kinsale Community School for €50,000 towards the costs associated with the development.  Thanking Shane for his generous contribution the principal Fergal McCarthy said that the pitch will forever more be known as ‘Fitzsimons Park’.

Shane's father Garry is a long-time member of Kinsale and District Lions Club.  Garry's generosity is also legendary.  He has contributed to many clubs and societies in Kinsale most notably the Scouts and Kinsale Chamber of Tourism.  Garry's contribution to Kinsale was acknowledged on the Kinsale Community School Wall of Fame where he was invited to unveil his own plaque in recognition of his achievements.