The recent sell-out fund-raiser The Kube raised €25,500 for the fund to rebuild Ballinrobe Town Hall – and the overall fund has now reached €230,000.
Thirty-six contestants from the south Mayo / north Galway region took part in the event at The Pavilion, Ballinrobe Racecourse, with Tesco’s Ray Kelly emerging as the overall winner.
“The night was a huge success, and we are delighted with the final figure of €25,500, which surpasses our initial target of €20,000” said the leader of
the organising committee Pat McGovern. “We had a huge turn-out on the night, 36 committed and enthusiastic competitors, and a brilliant winner – Ray Kelly – who kindly donated his €750 prize to the Town Hall fund. It was a very encouraging response from the entire community and region and demonstrates the support there is for the Town Hall.”
Ballinrobe Musical Society, awarded €250 as the club that raised the greatest amount of money, have also donated their winnings to the fund. Each contestant raised at least €300. Veronica Sheridan, the individual competitor who raised the most amount of money, was given a cash prize of €250.
The organisers have thanked Ballinrobe Racecourse for hosting the event. A target of €400,000 in local fund-raising was set by the Town Hall committee last year, and this figure has now reached €230,000. “We are very happy with the support we are getting. As far as we are concerned, it is now ‘all systems go’ with this project – it all hinges now on Government funding,” said Michael Sweeney, chairperson of the committee.
“We have been lobbying hard to get the kind of support we need to make this project a reality.”
The full list of contestants who took part in The Kube is as follows:
Western Lakes Cycling Club: Michael Conroy, John Conroy, Paula O’Neill, Michelle Conroy, Padraig Marrey, Shane Gilligan.
Ballinrobe GAA Club: Donal McCormack, Tom Carney, Padraic Costello Snr.
Ballinrobe Tidy Towns: Peter Heaps, James Conway.
Robeen Rascals Playschool: Damian Crowe.
Kilmaine Ladies GAA Club: Veronica Sheridan.
Ballinrobe Musical Society: Elaine Treacy, Seamus Lally, Richard Hennelly, John O’Shea, Louis Brennan, Tommie McGovern.
Ashford Castle: David Gardiner.
Ballinrobe Community School: Michael Coen, Willie Culkeen, Mike Ansbro, Lisa Biggins, Derek Milton.
Ballinrobe Town Traders: John Wilson, Martin Murphy, Lisa Costello, Emma Gill, Hilda Hughes.
Tesco: Ray Kelly.
Ballinrobe Rugby Club: Trevor Watson, John Stagg (a late stand-in for Mathew Gill, who was unavailable due to a family bereavement).
Ballinrobe Town AFC: Declan Commons.
AIB Bank: Aonghus McGauley.
Bank of Ireland: Annette Canty.
Organising committee: Pat McGovern, Lisa Costello, Michael Sweeney, Monica Horan, Richard Burke, Liz Kelleher, Liam Horan.