District backs hospice drive

All five Municipal Districts in Wicklow will provide €10,000 each toward the Wicklow Hospice Foundation.

The initiative is part of increased efforts to raise enough funds to construct a 15 bed facility at Magheramore.

Cllr Shay Cullen outlined the details of the fundraising push at the final Wicklow Municipal District meeting of the year held on Monday.

‘With a view to getting finances to increase the fund to build the hospice it was suggested that each Municipal District would give €10,000 toward the building costs.

‘It is a great opportunity for us as public representatives to make a big difference to this campaign,’ said Cllr Cullen.

The plan has already been brought to Wicklow County Council’s protocol committee two weeks ago where it received overwhelming support.

A Gala Night has also been arranged for the Parkview Hotel, Newtownmountkennedy, for Friday, April 7.

A small sub-committee consisting of county councillors has also been set up and has already met.

Wicklow Municipal District Cathaoirleach, Cllr John Snell, gave the initiative his full support.

‘It benefits the whole county. Each public representative will have to sell a certain amount of tickets for the gala. We hope to give it all a good push. We will be looking for people to come on board and we haven’t met anyone yet who hasn’t been enthusiastic.’

Cllr Gail Dunne said he had already been approached by people wanting to purchase tickets for the gala night. ‘A number of people have been on to me wanting to book tables. It just shows how popular an idea it is. The fact that each Municipal District will be involved also shows that it is a county thing.’

Cllr Daire Nolan felt the fundraising drive would prove to be a ‘ big success.’

He said: ‘ I fully endorse and support it and If I can be of any assistance then please just let me know. I know of a couple of other projects, which if they bear fruit, will also help out as well.’