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08 Sept 2025

Longford Branch of Mary's Meals raise €36,000 with super barn dance and fun day

Money raised through the generosity of Longford people will help feed and educate 1,637 children for a year

Mary's Lunch

Money raised through the generosity of Longford people will help feed and educate 1,637 children for a year

Reporter:

Longford Leader Reporter

04 Jun 2025 12:33 PM

Email:

newsroom@longfordleader.ie

The Longford Branch of Mary's Meals organised a Barn Dance fundraiser in Connolly Barracks on Saturday May 3 last. The large crowd in attendance seemed to enjoy every minute of it, the dance floor was in use from the minute the gates opened. The children were welcome by so many characters including Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Bluey, Peppa Pig and many others, the children stood in awe until they got used to the giant figures, then they all shook hands, some slapped hands, or had their photos taken. 

It was also great to welcome the residents of St. Joseph who really seemed to enjoy the breeze on their faces, tapping their feet and hands. 
Once the music started it never stopped. Brid Shaughnessy opened, giving a fantastic performance, with the help of the Robert Mizzell band she really showed her true talents on the day. Following on with Claudia Buckley and Robert Mizzell, the dancing competition took place during Robert Mizzell stint.
Mary's Meals want to thank Brid, Claudia Robert for their very generous donation of time on the day. 
The programme had the locals of Seamus Farrell, Pascal & Davey, Sean Hussey, Tommy Flaherty. The crowd stayed until the end with John Joe O’Reilly singing solo, at the end everyone present wanted more. It was a great day with Brian O’Neill sponsored bales, a great dance floor with lots of seating around the dancing area. Many danced for the 4 hours and their enjoyment expanded to the whole crowd in attendance. 
The funding was in order to feed 1637 children for a year, in school by the generosity of all paying guests, all donations, all raffle tickets and all Mary's Meal stalls.    
Longford County Council are acknowledged and thanked for allowing use of Connolly Barrack for the day. So many local business gave donations, some extraordinary amounts, so a sincere “Thank You” to all who gave donations, either money or goods for raffle. All our volunteers who came and manned stalls; the main sponsor Kiernan Steel who helped out in every way possible; their staff, whom generously gave of their time, who were at every possible required position. A special note to KSSL’s Martina Brady-Farrell, her staff who took the brunt of the organising with the great help of Mary's Meals Secretary, Kitty Ross, and her husband Brian. Gabrielle Devine was responsible for paying and receiving all monies on the day. To Mary's Meals volunteers who manned the Mary's Meals staffs also a very sincere thank you. 
There is lots of voluntary hours available if you have times to give to Mary’s Meals in Longford a helping hand. 

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