Fright night!
SEARCH & RESCUE’S SPOOKY FUNDRAISER
A dancing event with a difference took place in the Riverside Park Hotel as tango-lovers and rumba-fanatics donned Halloween outfits in aid of Slaney Search and Rescue.
This horror-themed Strictly Come Dancing competition saw contestants compete over two nights in front of a discerning panel of judges and a demanding, yet encouraging, audience. And, after qualifying through the heats it was Wally and Stephanie O’Brien who were crowned overall winners, their Dracula-themed tango wowing judges and audience alike. Indeed, the only thing more amazing than their performance was the overall amount raised for Slaney Search and Rescue.
Alan O’Brien, who is a diver with the rescue team, organised the event and he was overwhelmed by the support they received from the public.
‘ There was €23,035 raised, an absolutely unbelievable amount. That will be used to get Slaney Search and Rescue a new van and a boat fully kitted out with side scan sonar; this system will cut the time it takes to search underwater by days, even weeks. Having this equipment will make us one of the highest tech rescue teams in the country, we were already in the top ten but this will put us way up there.’
Praising all those who donated and those who helped organise the event and raise funds, Alan paid special tribute to the couple who did more than most to fund this new equipment.
‘Phil O’Shea and Krystal Livingstone raised the most out of all the dancers, they got €8,910 between them,’ he said.
Finishing just behind the O’Briens at the final, which saw the top ten plus one wildcard duo dance, were Johnny Sinnott and Catherine Quigley in second place and Emma Hogan and Vicki Sharpe in third.