Ireland West Airport staff raise €40,000 for Irish charities in 2023

Ireland West Airport staff has presented a €40,000 cheque this week to the six nominated charities for 2023 - Breakthrough Cancer Research, Diabetes Ireland, The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, The Cancer Fund for Children, The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and the Mayo Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Over the year, several events took place with Ireland West Airport employees getting involved to support the six charities.

The most successful fundraiser was the annual Portwest 5km Runway Run, which gathered over 1,000 people to take to the airport's runway in September.

The other major fundraisers included an Online Bingo Night in November and a bumper online charity draw in August.

Pictured presenting a cheque to the six airport charities for 2023, were from left to right, Sinead Boyle, Ireland West Airport, Carmen Taheny, SPCC, Brian Wilson, RNLI, Alanna O’Boyle, Diabetes Ireland, Gail Smith, Mayo SPCA, Eoghan O’Sullivan, Breakthrough Cancer Research, Mary McHugh, Cancer Fund for Children and Joe Gilmore, Managing Director, Ireland West Airport.

There was a fantastic response by the public, and combined, Ireland West Airport fundraisers raised over €35,000 for the six charities, in addition to donations left in the charity boxes at the airport by passengers and customers throughout the year, contributed to the significant funds raised.

Speaking at the cheque presentation, Joe Gilmore, Managing Director of Ireland West Airport, said, "Our annual charity programme is a very important initiative for the airport and one we are delighted to undertake each year.

"I'm particularly pleased for the airport this year to have supported six fantastic charities and present a cheque for €40,000 to contribute to the fantastic work that these charities all undertake, which has such a positive impact for the people that they support in our community.

"I am very proud of the continued support and commitment of our own staff in raising significant money for their nominated charities every year and would also like to express our gratitude to all the passengers travelling through the airport who have donated so generously, and I know that these donations and the monies raised by the airport will be very well received, particularly at this time of the year, by these very worthy charities."