Coming to terms with their newly shorn state. From left, Tom Lynch, who had his thirty year old beard and head shaved; Dessie Flynn, who had his beard shaved; Lester Gordon, who had his beard and head shaved, Gerry Moore, who had his beard shaved. and Thomas Murray who had his beard and head shaved

Feeling the chill on their chins in Finea

Published: Wed 14 Apr 2010, 6:00 PM

Bidding for beards on ebay mightn't be the pasttime of most people engage in - but one purchaser from Portlaoise has just forked out €50 for the beards of a group of Finea men who agreed to submit to the razor in aid of charity.The biggest sacrifice of all was made by Tom Lynch: owner for thirty years of a fine impressive white beard, now, sadly, but a memory. Others who have been learning to cope with the cold around their chins include Dessie Flynn, Lester Gordon, Gerry Moore, Thomas Murray, Pauric Sheridan, and Dessie Higgins. The buyer was Dean Ward of Portlaoise, and the money he paid joins the rest of the money raised in sponsorship, which will later this month be handed over to Temple Street Hospital.The organisers are grateful to Martin Daly, of Daly's Barber's Shop, Mullingar, for gently separating man and moustache, and to all the "victims" and their sponsors.