Cork duo are bringing hope to farming families in Sierra Leone

A member of the clergy from Carrigaline and a counterpart from Bandon are taking part in a series of walks across the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne, and Ross to help raise funds for poverty-stricken farmers and their families in Sierra Leone.

During May and June Rev Tony Murphy of Carrigaline and Rev Andrew Coleman will visit all 22 parishes to raise awareness of the Diocesan Appeal for Sierra Leone.

Launched in 2024 by Bishop Paul Colton, the appeal is a partnership with Christian Aid Ireland and the Bishops’ Appeal (the Church of Ireland’s World Development Fund).

The money raised though the initiative is being used to support the work of Christian Aid and its local partner, the Sierra Leone Council of Churches, to help families rebuild their lives and find new sources of income after being forced from their farmland following the arrival of a huge palm oil plantation.

The appeal has been named Liloma, which means ‘hope’ in the local Mende language

One of those whose land is now part of the palm plantation is Hawa Sannoh, who explained: “My father’s land was sold without his consent. He used to have lots of land where he would grow palm oil, fruit, and vegetables. He was left with nothing.”

Boost their incomes

The project will support more than 350 women in 10 communities to boost their incomes and rebuild their lives through savings groups, support for farming, and help to find new sources of income.

This is not the first time that Rev Tony Murphy and Rev Andrew Coleman have laced up their walking boots in support of a Christian Aid project to tackle poverty. In 2021, the pair helped to raise thousands of euro for Christian Aid’s work in Burundi, visiting and walking with parishioners in all 22 parishes in Cork Diocese.

The Sierra Leone project is especially close to Rev Tony’s heart, as he served as a volunteer teacher in the east of the country from 1977 to 1979. Rev Andrew also has a deep commitment to international development, having been Christian Aid Ireland’s church and community officer until 2025 when he retired from the charity and was ordained into local ministry in Cork Diocese.

Rev Tony said he was hopeful that the parishioners of Cork Diocese would support the appeal:

“Cork Diocese has previously supported projects tackling poverty overseas, so I’m confident that the parishioners will donate generously to help their brothers and sisters living in poverty in Sierra Leone,” he said.