The popular Cork RNLI fundraising lunch and auction, which took place at the Maryborough Hotel last week (Friday, 1 November), proved a huge success, raising €15,100 for the life-saving charity. The event was attended by two hundred guests who came to support Baltimore, Crosshaven and Kinsale RNLI in their work, saving lives at sea.
The room was full of many familiar faces with 210 people dining to raise funds for the lifeboats. RNLI Council member, Ian Venner, opened proceedings and spoke about the work of the RNLI and where the funds raised will be spent.
Master of Ceremonies and well-known comedian, Barry Murphy, kept the crowd entertained throughout their lunch and during the auction. Generous sponsors, many of them local Cork businesses, provided a raft of incredible raffle prizes while some of those in attendance displayed immense generosity by providing fantastic impromptu prizes on the day for the auction. These included a signed Munster rugby jersey, premium-level tickets to see Ireland take on Denmark at the Aviva Stadium later this month in the final UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier, and a week’s free accommodation at a private luxury apartment in the Mediterranean. The auction got the guests bidding against each in good-natured fashion for the exciting lots.
Claire Morgan, Gillian O'Sullivan, Ruth Cudmore McSweeney & Avril O'Brien: RNLI Fundraising Lunch Committee, alongside Mary Creedon, RNLI Committee Fundraiser Manager at the RNLI Fundraising Lunch 2019, Maryborough Hotel & Spa, Douglas, 1st November 2019
A popular part of the event was the interview with Crosshaven RNLI crewmember and also uncle and niece; James Fegan and Molly Murphy. The pair spoke about how lifeboats is a family affair for them and how they became involved in the life-saving charity. James has been lifeboat crew for fifteen years while Molly who joined when she turned seventeen and studying for her Leaving Certificate, is now over two years on the crew. The pair offered a unique insight into what it takes to run a high performing team of lifesaving volunteers and the many sacrifices each volunteer and their loved ones endure to ensure lives are saved at sea.
RNLI Community Fundraising Manager Mary Creedon said, ‘Once again the generous people of Cork have come out in support of their local lifeboat stations. We had a wonderful afternoon in the company of great people, and I hope everyone who attended got an idea of the work of the charity and of the type of incredible people who volunteer for our lifeboats.’
‘The RNLI is about to embark on a major fundraising initiative called ‘Perfect Storm’ to meet the challenges of keeping our crews trained and equipped so they can face the elements and rescue those in trouble at sea. Anyone looking to support the RNLI can do so by visiting rnli.org/support-us and donating.’
