Colm O’connor
Ingenuity GAA clubs knows no bounds when it comes to fundraising and Carrickedmond, rural club in Longford, continues this tradition of innovation with the idea of merging cultures with football.
Their idea is simple: farmers buy calves, bred calves, farmers sell calves after two years – with the money going to GAA club who compete in the championship Longford football.
Secretary-Mairéad CC, McDonnell said: “we are a small rural club like any other club in Ireland, we’re always looking for different ways to raise funds.
“Some guys on the Executive of the farmers and the idea came from our President Barry O’farrell and one of our treasurers, Kevin Farrell.
“They appealed to the farmers In the parish to get it up and running and it took off from there.
“So farmers buy calves and will increase them over the next two years – no cost of the club. They will sell them after two years, and the money will return to the club.”
Prices in two years may be in the region of €1200.
McDonnell acknowledged that interest took them by surprise.
“We have 15 calves purchased this year and a waiting list for next spring.
She added: “we are also very lucky that J Grennan and sons (family agri-trading business) was the author of the milk replacer rear these calves, and we can’t thank them enough for their help and kindness”.
McDonnell said the money will go to pay for redevelopment project field. “We have done a lot of drainage work on our field two years ago, so the funds raised from this will go primarily to repay this job.
“Like any club, we try different things from the drum in the night race on the June Bank holiday weekend. We were looking for something different and we came up with.
“So far so good, we won’t see any money for two years, but it is good to know that he will be there for us.”
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
