€6000 raised at successful Cooley Country Market
THE organisers of the recent Cooley Country Market wish to thank all who helped to make the market such a success. A total of €6000 was raised for The Birches Alzheimer Day Care Centre in Rath Abbey, Grange, Carlingford.
From early morning, eager shoppers waited for the doors to open in order to secure a bargain. Cooley Country markets are unique, held twice per year in July and December, the stalls are laden with goods all of which are donated free of charge. Growing from strength to strength, these vibrant markets have now become a bargain hunters paradise. Each cent raised goes directly to fund the services of The Birches.
The main stay of the market was as always, the home baking stall. Running the length of the hall, it stood testiment to the labours of many from Cooley and further afield. Over fifty ladies baked for the market, creating a mouthwatering display of breads, desserts, etc. There was huge demand for all of these hand made delights. With the aroma of homebaking filling the air, many of the ladies freshly baked offering barely found time to be left on the table before being bought up by loyal shoppers.
There were stalls selling jams, free range eggs, freshly dug potatoes, fruit, vegetables, and a rainbow display of bed- ding plants. There was stalls selling antique china, preloved vintage clothes and quirky little pieces. There was a huge variety of goods on sale, anything from garden furniture, bicycles, and pictures to barbed wire, ladders and nails. For the kiddies there was ice cream to be savoured, lucky dip to be tried and face painting. The Cooley Active Retirement Group once more hosted a stall which held a wide variety of beautiful items all being sold at discounted prices.
The introduction of a new look ‘Pop Up’ Coffee shop was a huge hit with the shoppers, providing them with relaxed bright cheerful surroundings to enjoy their tea, coffee, and home baked treats.
The organisers of the market wish to express their sincerest thanks to all the kind people who baked. The quality and quantity was astounding and is surely what sustains and is the backbone of the market. Thanks also to all who donated such a wide variety of goods to the market. These markets are unique, relying solely on the generosity of the public to donate goods free of charge. As always, this proved to be a huge success with a record number of goods being offered for sale. Thank you to all who travelled from near and far to donate and support the market. Thank you to all the business’s who sponsored prizes for the raffle, and donated goods for sale.The organisers wish to thank everybody who helped in the kitchen and the hall on the day. Thanks also to those who promoted the market, and the Argus newspaper for all of the much needed publicity.
The organisers finally remember those who are always foremost in their minds. The people who will benefit from the excellent care which The Birches provides each Monday in Rath Abbey, Grange, Carlingford. With alzheimer’s disease invading their lives, some may be completely oblivious to the groundswell of goodwill evident in Cooley Hall last Sunday. What a shame that they may never understand just how much people care. By supporting the Cooley Country Markets, you are ensuring that those who are treasured so much will continue to receive that which they have earned, peace and understanding in what can be a difficult and troubled period of their lives. On their behalf, a million thanks to everybody who contributed to the market in any way.
As the lights now dim in the many Cooley Country Market kitchens, it’s a time for reflection on the great appreciation that is out there for the work of The Birches, and in a few short weeks plans will be made for the next market in December.