Daughter of the late Liam Kearns to honour his memory with fundraising abseil

THE DAUGHTER of a late Limerick football manager is doing a fundraising abseil in memory of her father.

Laura Kearns, daughter of the late Liam Kearns, is partaking in the Heart of Heroes Challenge to raise money for the Irish Heart Foundation as a heartfelt tribute to her dad.

Mr Kearns passed away suddenly, aged 61, in March 2023 of a heart attack, which caused great shock and devastation to his family and the GAA community around Limerick and further afield.

Previously managing Limerick, Laois and Tipperary senior footballers, Mr Kearns led the Limerick U21 football team to an All-Ireland final in the year 2000.

He was Offaly manager when he tragically passed.

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Now, his daughter Laura embarks on a courageous abseil at the Generator’s Skyview Tower in Dublin on Saturday, November 2. It is a fully sold out event, all in aid of The Irish Heart Foundation.

“The abseil is something I've been wanting to do. I have been volunteering with the Irish Heart Foundation for the last six months and it is something that is close to my heart.

“After the shock of what happened to my own dad, when it [heart health issues] comes to your own front door, it really brings it to the forefront of your mind.

“I want to do this abseil to not only raise funds, but for advocacy and to raise awareness on heart disease, which can be a silent killer, as was the case for my dad.”

Saying she is “nervous” to do the upcoming abseil because she is “not a big adventurer”, Laura said she will be “out of her comfort zone” but that her dad “would be in the thick of it”.

“Dad would definitely be egging me on to do the abseil and it is great to do something in his memory.

“Nothing will ever be the same without dad, and we very much miss him in everything we do.”

Speaking of the GAA and her father’s involvement, Laura added: “Dad ate, slept and breathed the GAA but definitely Limerick was one county he had a special connection to from his time with the senior footballers, for sure.”

Laura’s wife Una added: “Liam and the Limerick footballers gave us some of the best days out as Limerick supporters which we will cherish forever.”

A retired garda sergeant, Mr Kearns served at Mayorstone garda station in Limerick city.

He was primarily involved in training gardaí until his retirement.

Originally from Tralee, Mr Kearns was a former Austin Stacks clubman who won an All-Ireland minor title with Kerry in 1980 and was involved with Kerry Under-21 and senior panels.

The Heart Heroes Abseil Challenge 2024 is taking place at the Generator's Skyview Tower in Smithfield Square, Dublin 7 on Saturday, November 2.

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