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Break My Stride

Offaly Hurlers Raise €60,000 For Charity

Tuesday, 9 June 2020 13:56

Photo Credit: James Crombie

It was part of a two day fundraising event last weekend.

The Offaly senior hurlers produced the goods off the field last weekend as their double fundraising venture last Saturday and Sunday returned over 60,000 for two local charities.

With no on field action, the senior hurling panel showed their leadership qualities off the field by been the driving force behind pulling all this together in just three and a half weeks. On Saturday, they held as online variety show that saw over 1,000 people tune into Offaly GAA social media channels before completing their weekend of fundraising on Sunday morning with a solo run from Kilcormac to Tullamore.

Down Syndrome Offaly and Jigsaw Offaly were the two benefactors and the solo run route was poignant as it started at the Down Syndrome Offaly offices in Kilcormac and finished at the Jigsaw offices in Tullamore. The variety show was a massive success. People could vote for their favourite act right throughoutthe week leading up to it and on the night itself. Each euro donated counted as a vote and massive
traction on line led to the money flowing in throughout the week.

There were 14 acts overall and when all was said and done and the judges scores along with themoney raised by each act were totted up, the car pool entry from Offaly Camogie came out on top. Becky Bryant, Amy Byrne, Emma Mulrooney and Sharon Shanahan took the spoils with over 7,000
euro worth of votes. They were closely followed by ‘the Backward boys’ in second comprising of Shinrone men Dan
Doughan, Jason Sampson, Michael Cleary, Sean Cleary and Killian Sampson while third place went to the Ballinamere/Durrow men Brian Duignan, Ciaran Burke and Ross Ravenhill.

Sponsorship is key to any fundraising drive and the Offaly senior hurlers were lucky to have excellent main sponsors for the weekend. EJ Engineering, Banagher Concrete, ESB, Inland and Coastal, Ravenhill Transport, Logicom, Axe Forestry, Birr Community School, Loughnanne Concrete,Grennan’s of Rath, Carroll Cuisine, Banagher College, St Rynagh’s GAA, McCormack Builders and Rosderra Meats all put their shoulder to the wheel in that regard.

Judges on the night were Irish Rugby international Ultan Dillane, digital journalist Lauren Guilfoyle and Offaly native and comedian Neil Delemere.

Sunday morning saw more members of the panel take part in a relay solo run from Kilcormac to Tullamore where they topped off their fundraising efforts. The players have also secured a signed Offaly jersey by 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry and that is available to buy through auction.

Bids can be made by through contacting Offaly GAA social media channels by private message.

Countless people also rowed in behind the scenes to make the weekend a massive success and to raise an amount of money that tripled their expectations. Speaking on behalf of the Offaly senior hurlers, Aidan Treacy commented, “we would like to thank everyone who donated and supported the event. Massive work went into it and we got great support from both sponsors and the general public along the way”.

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