‘SHOCK OF CONSOLE NEARLY KILLED US’
ORGANISERS OF GERARD MURPHY RUN NOT GIVING TO SUICIDE BEREAVEMENT CHARITY THIS YEAR
THE organisers of the Gerard Murphy Memorial vintage show and road run won’t be donating the proceeds to Console’s successor this year. This means that for the first time in the event’s history, they are not supporting the suicide bereavement counselling charity and are instead donating to four different causes.
They took the decision following the fallout from the financial scandal involving Console chief Paul Kelly and his family that rocked the charity world and led to the winding down of Console, with Pieta House taking over their services.
Bríd Murphy said that this year the proceeds of the event will be divided between Slaney Search and Rescue, Enniscorthy, the New Ross River Search and Rescue, Wexford Marine Watch and the Local Hub in Glenbrohane, Co Limerick which has set up to fight the rise in the suicide rate in the area as a result of rural isolation.
‘ The shock of Console nearly killed us’, admitted Bríd. ‘It was such a shock not only to the fundraisers but to the staff themselves who were working there. They are now trying to pick up the pieces and work with Pieta House and hopefully Pieta will keep the centres open.
‘When we were organising this year’s fundraisers we contacted the receiver but nobody got back to us and we had to decide what we were going to do so we decided to donate the money to the four different charities, three of which are local.
‘Really who better to give it to. They all do fabulous work. Search and rescue provide a very valuable service but their boats and equipment need updating. From talking to the people involved in these charities I have found that a lot of them got involved because they had lost a loved one to the river and wanted to help other families.’
Bríd said that a lot of time people don’t realise the enormity of a suicide in a family until they are in that situation. ‘ There’s not just the death but all the other factors. People don’t talk about family embarrassment and the way that your family might stop including you in things because of a suicide. Or the way in which friends can drop off.
‘We are lucky in that we have had such great support, particularly from the vintage groups not only locally but all over Ireland. That has helped us to help ourselves really.’
Taking place this year on Sunday, October 2, this will be the sixth year of the run which is going from strength to strength, raising an average of €15,500 each year.
It takes place on the site of the mart on the Old Dublin Road in Enniscorthy and the cars, tractors, lorries and motorcycles are expected to start to arriving from 10 a.m. This year will be extra special as it is the first year that lorries and tractors are permitted to take part.
The road run itself will set off about 1 p.m. and will travel through Bunclody, Clonegal, Kildavin, Shillelagh, Tinahely before taking a pit stop at Killaveney Church. After a break, the drivers will head back to Enniscorthy going through Hollyfort, Gorey, Clough, Camolin, Ferns and Enniscorthy.
Also on the day there will be plenty of family fun and entertainment with everything from a steam engine display and auto jumble to Disney characters and Superheroes. Other attractions will including a craft fair, a diecast model and diorama show and a raffle for two classic cars.
There will be also a wealth of live music from different bands performing on the Stage Coach. With the Baked Potato serving up tasty dishes on the day as well as food tent complete with barbecue and the tasty delights from the local Gala Service Station, which is opening up especially for the day, there will be something to satisfy everyone’s appetite, young and old.