PRIMARY school pupils in Kinsale have shown immense Christmas spirit, raising enough funds to purchase 200 sleeping bags for Cork Simon Community.

The fifth and sixth class children from the Gaelscoil Chionn tSáile made €2,300 at a very successful bakesale and raffle in the local Temperance Hall earlier this month. The event was inspired by a talk the children were given about homelessness and the work of Cork Simon.

A parent who was involved in bringing the talk to the school said that they were all blown away by how the children took the idea and made it their own.

"The idea was to educate the children about homelessness but they took the idea and ran with it. 

"We helped them set up a sort of mini company and they established committees. 

"It took four weeks to organise and the pupils made posters which they asked business owners to place in their windows. 

"They did all the promotion themselves."

The initiative received great support from local shops, with staff buying plenty of cakes on the day too. The goodwill didn't stop there however, with Army Surplus Warehouse in Midleton kindly selling the sleeping bags to the school at cost price. 

"People were very generous which was great for the kids to see.

"We are absolutely delighted."