One of the things that you can say definitely about the Irish is that they're good at doling out the punts, that they're a generous race. This fact has been proved time and time again and here in the midlands the recent experience of Ballyskenach GAA was proof once more of the old proverbial pudding: the club announced last weekend that they had raised almost £30,000 for the development of their new pitch and the provision of new facilities.
But, all the same, the club found the fund raising hard work (one can't obviously
raise money sitting down on one's backside - you have to go out and seek it)
and they're glad that it's all over and can now go back to a more sedentary
pace of living.
Their fund raising tactic was quite simple: to launch a Lord Mayor campaign, a common money raising tactic among GAA clubs.
This they decided to do when their Junior team won the Offaly championship last year. Things were improving for the club and it felt that it was about time that they improved their facilities which were deemed to be mundane.
If that Junior team went on to greater honours as it proceeded to the Intermediate and Senior stages. then it was felt that the club's facilities would need improvement.
Four candidates put their names forward for the campaign and off they went, beginning on the 31st of March last, assiduously seeking funds. They were Pauline O'Toole, Paddy McLoughlin, Mary Middleton and Tom Douglas.
On Friday night last the club decided to put on some entertainment in Shinrone Hall and to finally reveal how much the Lord Mayor candidates had risen over the months. When it was revealed by Eugene Hannon, the Chairman of the Development Committee, the large crowd assembled let out a great roar of approval. The sum, £27,841 to be exact, had, as the club's Chairman Noel Russell informed us, far exceeded all expectations.
It was also announced that the winner of the Lord Mayor campaign was Tom Douglas who had accrued a most remarkable £12,942 votes. His prize was a weekend break in Killarney.
But the important thing was the significant sum that had been raised and the Chairman, justly so. looked rather pleased with himself. Before the official announcement of how much the candidates had raised, he had informed us that when it was decided to improve Ballyskenach's facilities a development committee had been formed.
They
had then approached the Abbot Dom. Colmcille O'Toole of Mt St Joseph's Abbey
and the abbot had very kindly offered them a pitch just outside the abbey's
walls for a modest sum. Some of the £30,000 raised will go towards the paying
of this modest sum. The rest will go towards the levelling and drainage of the
pitch, the placing of railings around it and the creation of a car park beside
it. The club hopes too to improve the lighting there. It will also go towards
the provision of dressing rooms with showers, toilets and a meeting room,
These facilities will be also used by St Bernadette's Camogie Club and by Ballyskenach Athletic Club. The work will be starting in the near future.
After the announcements of how much money had been raised and who had been voted the Lord Mayor, music and dancing then followed which continued well into the early hours of the morning. Music was provided by 'Mountain Dew' who went down very well with everyone present.
Finally, the club proffers its sincerest gratitude once more to Abbot Dom. Colmcille and to the monks of Mt St Joseph and to all who supported the Lord Mayor Campaign.
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