Seven-year itch for dad who ditched beard for daughter

Louise Walsh

A loving dad ditched his beloved seven-year old unruly beard when his only daughter said she didn't want him to walk her down the aisle looking 'more untidy than Grizzly Adams'

However Sally Maloney was more than happy to settle for a half-shaven dad Stephen at her wedding last week when he promised to cut the lot off after he raised enough money to treat elderly citizens in Slane, Co. Meath to a Christmas dinner event.

The 59 year old sailor had left his beard largely growing wild since it sprouted on a sailing trip from Drogheda, Co. Louth to Canada in 2012.

"I've sailed from Drogheda to the Azores, America, Madeira, many places over the years as a crew member on a ship owned by Paschal McGuffin in Drogheda," said Stephen.

"I've had a hairy face all my life and was only clean shaven when I got married.  I've cut the beard off for a few charity events over the years but the beard has never been such a mega event on my face until now.

"I haven't touched it really apart from take the sides off as I couldn't get through a door otherwise," he laughed, adding, "I've also found plenty of egg stuck in it over the last seven years."

However, the time came to say goodbye to his facial friend when his only daughter Sally (28) announced she was getting married.

"My wife got sick shortly after Sally was born and after an illness of eight years, she passed away so it's been me and Sally for most of her life since.

"When she said she didn't want to be given away by someone who looked more untidy than Grizzly Adams, I couldn't say no."

However, he decided to combine the big shave with a charity fundraiser.

"A good friend of mine Andrew Cassidy ran a pub in Slane for ten years and paid out of his pocket each year for Christmas dinner for the elderly residents of the village.

"He sold the pub over a year ago and so we both decided to raise money to hold another Christmas dinner event for them this year in another pub in the village.

"We had only raised €700 by the time Sally got married last week so I shaved half the beard off, with the other half going on November 10th at 7pm in the Boyne Valley Inn when I hopefully reach €1400

"Sally was fine with that as the half-beard looked fine for the pictures and you could kind of see my face again," he laughed.

"They say a man spends an average of 10 minutes a day shaving so think of all the time I've saved over the years.  People say I look much younger but in truth, I'd rather be a cantankerous old fella with a beard than a clean-shaven young smiling thing so I'm not sure if the beard has gone for good."

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