Walking for charity a great success
Hunting the Wren in Birdhill
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Joe Kennedy, Birdhill Senior Citizens Annual Dinner Committee, receiving a cheque towards the event from Nora Coffey, Lily O’Grady, Elizabeth Floyd and Eilish Ryan, Birdhill Wren Group.Image 2 of 5
Members of Birdhill Wren Group presenting a cheque for Milford Care Centre, Castletroy, to Dave Lawlor at the Cooper’s Bar, Birdhill, from the proceeds of their charity walk.Image 3 of 5
Some of the participants in the Birdhill Wren Group 10km walk for charity.Image 4 of 5
Taking part in the Birdhill Wren Group 10km walk from Birdhill to Ballina and back to raise funds for charity.Image 5 of 5
Setting out for the 10km Birdhill Wren Group walk from the village to Ballina and back to raise funds for charity.An annual charity fundraiser, which has been one of the most successful in the region over the past four decades, has smoothly transitioned to a new format, with even greater success than in the past.
Birdhill Wren Group of talented musicians and singers have been exemplary for the scale of funding raised annually for Milford Care Centre and Hospice, Limerick since the late 1980s while keeping alive the traditional practice of Hunting the Wren on St Stephen's Day.
While changing times and the waning of tradition has impacted their practice, their determination to go on has been maintained.
Group Co-Ordinator, Tim Floyd explained: “Hunting the wren each St Stephen's Day was very successful for decades as all know, but the practice of visiting the pubs in the region is not as beneficial as it was and we have had to change. “The crowds are not in the pubs nowadays and our taking would be down a lot. We have changed to a 10km sponsored walk on the new R494 from Birdhill Roundabout to Ballina Roundabout and back and it is proving to be a great success,” he added.
Tim was explaining the new format at the presentation of a cheque for more than €7,000 to Dave Lawlor for Milford Care Centre at the Cooper's Bar, Birdhill, where Joe Kennedy, was also presented with a cheque for €500 towards Birdhill Senior Citizens Annual Dinner. While all associated with the annual St Stephen's Day outing over the decades are sad to see the tradition of Hunting the Wren is on the wane, they are more than pleased that their support for Milford Care Centre is stronger than ever.
In a letter of thanks from Milford Care Centre, Anne Marie Hayes, Fundraising Manager, wrote: “It's incredible to see the outcome of your hard work and I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed.”
She added: “A special thanks to Cooper's Christmas Pool Tournament, Fitzgerald Groundworks, OBB Consulting Engineers, and subscriptions received by all those who participated.”
She said that the funds will be used to continue to expand the facilities and care for patients and families in the region.
While the operational costs are now funded by the HSE, the funds raised are facilitating the development of local base centres at Nenagh, Thurles, Ennis, and Newcastle West to bring the services closer to the communities within the region.