Three young Fermanagh sisters are all set to have their long ponytail hairstyles cut on behalf of two special causes, which they can very much relate to.

The Loughran siblings from Maguiresbridge - Cassie, aged nine, Annie, eight, and Sophie, five, are taking up their charitable venture on behalf of the Little Princess Trust, and also the Scottish charity, Fiona’s Eye Fund, set up in memory of Fermanagh born ophthalmologist Dr Fiona Dolan who passed away in December 2007, aged 36. Dr Dolan was actually a first cousin of the girls’ mother, Majella Loughran. Majella’s mum Nellie Boyle and Fiona’s mum Chrissie Dolan (nee Woods) are sisters.

The Loughran girls plan to donate their hair to the Little Princess Trust, which provides real hair wigs to boys and girls across the UK and Ireland who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment, while they hope to have their haircutting efforts sponsored in aid of Fiona’s Eye Fund, Saving eyesight in developing countries.

The late Fiona, a daughter of John and Chrissie Dolan, from Enniskillen, studied at Queen’s University Belfast, where she attained her MBChB, and she worked first in London hospitals and qualified with her MRCOphth (Ophthalmology). She married Steven Hay from Glasgow in 1997 and made her home in Glasgow with Steven. Their first son Hamish was followed by second son Peadar and twin daughters Iona and Niamh.

Fiona often talked about using her ophthalmology skills to do cataract or trachoma work in a developing country. Having four children put this ambition on hold but in the weeks before she was diagnosed with a brain tumour Fiona was making plans to go out to work for a week in a cataract camp in Africa with a team of doctors from Scotland. When Fiona, a much loved figure, passed away on December 22, 2007, it was decided that a Fund should be set up which would enable doctors and nurses from Scotland to spend time working in developing countries to improve eyecare and restore eyesight in people affected by cataracts. Funding colleagues to do this work is seen as a fitting tribute to Fiona’s memory.

One of Fiona’s twin daughters Iona Hay was diagnosed with osteosarcoma – a type of bone cancer – in 2008 and she had her right leg amputated below the knee. According to Majella, Iona has been “brilliant.” She mentioned that Iona lost her hair, and as a consequence this inspired the Loughran girls to donate their ponytails to the Little Princess Trust to help other children.

Majella mentioned that Fiona’s family is due to come home for Easter to visit their granny and granddad in Fermanagh and they will be catching up with Majella’s children, whom they always get on well with, and who also sustained the loss of a loved one, when they lost their father four and a half years ago.

Majella Loughran lost her husband, Dermot Loughran, aged 36, in a motorcycle accident on September 26, 2009; the couple’s two oldest girls were aged four, and two and a half years old. She and Dermot’s third daughter Sophie was born 12 days after the accident.

Majella and the girls, who are pupils at St. Mary’s Primary School, Maguiresbridge, felt they wanted to do something in Fiona’s name. She said that Cassie previously had her hair cut a couple of years ago and donated it to the Little Princess Trust. “The three of them decided to do it,” acknowledged Majella, who mentioned “Annie will be making her First Holy Communion on May 16” and they will be doing it after that. Giving their backing to two causes which are important to the family, the Little Princess Trust will once again benefit from the hair donations. However, this time, the Loughran family are also embarking on their first fundraising initiative and the sisters’ haircuts will back Fiona’s Eye Fund. Anyone interested in supporting their efforts can contact Majella on mobile number 07523052561.