Financial windfall for Offaly GAA as big fundraisers near €100,000 profit
Tullamore business men buy signed jersey for €16,000 as Offaly's “Magnificent Seven” honoured
THE Offaly GAA County Board had a very financially rewarding weekend with two separate fundraisers closing in on a profit of €100,000.
The County Board themselves ran a phenomenally successful gala night in the Tullamore Court Hotel on Friday. Honouring Offaly's seven All-Ireland senior football winning captains, there was a fantastic atmosphere at a packed function and the County Board's coffers were boosted by €60,000 from it.
Up in Palmerstown House Golf Club in Naas, the Offaly Association in Dublin held their annual golf classic for the County Board and are confident that they will clear €30,000 profit. It was their fourth annual golf classic for the County Board and is one of the major events undertaken by the Offaly Association in Dublin each year.
It took place on Thursday and Friday, attracting teams from Offaly exiles in Dublin and people at home. Businesses were once again generous in their support and several current and former Offaly footballers and hurlers teed off.
Businesses also responded very positively to the County Board's big fundraiser in Tullamore on Friday night. Tables were sold for €1,500 as people gathered to pay homage to Offaly's seven All-Ireland winning captains: Willie Bryan (Walsh Island), 1971 football; Tony McTague (Ferbane), 1972 football; Padraig Horan (St Rynagh's), 1981 hurling; Richie Connor (Walsh Island), 1982 football; Pat Fleury (Drumcullen), 1985 hurling; Martin Hanamy (St Rynagh's), 1994 hurling and Hubert Rigney (St Rynagh's), 1998 hurling.
The seven men are absolutely revered in Offaly and there were loud cheers as they went up onto the stage and engaged in a light hearted and informative questions and answers session with Offaly GAA chairman, Michael Duignan.
They were presented with a specially designed and signed old-style jersey, labelled “The Magnificent Seven”. A very limited edition, a jersey was auctioned and raffled on the night while one will be presented to Offaly's main sponsor, Glenisk and golf superstar, Shane Lowry, who is also a major backer of the County Board.
The auction of the jersey was a highlight of the night. Bidding started off at €3,000 with a handful of people making bids. Watching joint Offaly senior football manager Mickey Harte looked surprised as it quickly passed €5,000 and then €10,000 before Tullamore business man John Condron's bid of €16,000 was accepted. One of the principals in Condron Concrete in Tullamore, John Condron jnr and company director and Killeigh man, Brendan O'Rourke were presented with the jersey by Michael Duignan.
€20 tickets for a raffle for a jersey had been sold in advance of the function and on the night, and the jersey was won by Diarmuid Lally, Ferbane. Banagher native and London exile Kieran Sullivan won a travel voucher while long time Drumcullen GAA activist Peter Lyons also won a prize in the raffle.
Michael Duignan welcomed the All-Ireland winning captains; former Taoiseach Brian Cowen; chairman of Offaly County Council, Tony McCormack and joint Offaly senior football managers, Declan Kelly and Mickey Harte to the function.
He paid tribute to the seven captains, noting their vast contribution to Offaly football and hurling. Mr Duignan thanked everyone who supported the event, especially the main sponsors, Banagher Concrete. He stated that they have given huge backing to Offaly over the years.
Thanking all who bought tables, he said: “The support you have given Offaly over the years has been unbelievable. There is people in this room who have gone way and beyond and without ye we couldn't have got Offaly back on its feet and we couldn't have won the All-Ireland U-20 hurling this year and U20 football three years ago. We couldn't have had every boy and girl in Offaly wanting to wear the Offaly jersey again. It couldn't have happened without the people in this room. You are absolutely brilliant. None of ye are looking for credit but what ye do every day of the week for us is just amazing and from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for everything you have done for us.”