Millstreet & Around June 2009
By John F. Kelleher
Millstreet & District Farmers Calf Sale In Aid of St Patrick’s Church Restoration Project
The fundraising venture by Millstreet farmers has beaten the recessionary doom and gloom to donate €24,331 towards their Church Restoration Project.
On Saturday 14th March the Millstreet and district farmers Calf sale in aid of the Millstreet Restoration Fund reached its conclusion with close to hundred calves sold at Macroom Mart
The Proceeds from the sale goes towards the St Patrick’s Church Millstreet Church Restoration Project that’s currently in the height of a major €3 million development. The concept spurred from the Aubane Farm Discussion Group and farmers felt it was the ideal opportunity for those in Millstreet and the surrounding district to support the cause. On Saturday night 23rd April at Millstreet GAA Hall the proceeds from the Calf sale were handed over to the Church Restoration Committee.
Chairman John Twomey “thanked the farmers and those who supported the venture. He also thanked his excellent committee”.
“The additional support of Cork Marts and the Millstreet Parish Restoration Committee ensured everybody was 100 per cent behind our efforts”, he said.
Five collection points allowed calves to be collected at Cloughoula, Ballydaly, Cullen, Aubane and Millstreet and transported by local hauliers to Cork Co-op Mart in Macroom.
“We were delighted to be associated with a task that will be recalled and perhaps repeated again”, said Macroom Mart representative Tim McSweeney.
Richie O’Connor presented a cheque for €24,331 to Millstreet Parish Priest Canon Declan O’Connor. Denny Lane Chairman of the Church Restoration Committee also expressed his thanks to everyone who was part of the Calf Sale and he said they would welcome any other fundraising ideas. Canon Declan O’Connor also spoke on the work that has already been done on the church and he also expressed his thanks to everyone who supported the venture and to the committee who organised the Calf Sale. “A marvelous amount of money has been collected from this venture” Jerry Buckley from the Church Restoration Committee gave an account of the work that has been done on church to date.
