Louth’s financial backing for tour
THE wide and varied selection of patrons who contributed to the fund set up to raise money for Meath’s Australian trip makes interesting reading.
It was a special fund known as ‘The Australian Fund’ and there was just eight weeks to raise £10,000, a huge amount of money back in 1968.
As part of the fundraiser there was a raffle organised, with the prize a free trip to Australia or £500 in cash. Tickets cost £1 and the lucky winner was a Wexford man, Mr Philip Maguire, who decided to take the money rather than make the trip.
By week five, not only had the target been reached but exceeded, and in total over £14,000 was raised.
Not only did the people of the Royal County get behind the fund-raising as donations poured in from all over the country. Foremost in the fund-raising effort were Meath’s neighbours Louth where businesses, clubs and individuals contributed enormously to the project.
Newtown Blues GFC made a very generous donation of £10, and other clubs from the Wee County who got behind the effort included St Mary’s GFC Ardee £12, Naomh Mhuire GFC £10 and Oliver Plunkett’s GFC Drogheda £2.2.
The Drogheda Independent newspaper contributed £50, Drogheda & Dundalk Dairies £12.10, Michael Tuite Bull Ring £5, Michael Reynolds (Stabannon) £2, Joe Leech c/o Shiels’ Bakery Drogheda £2, James Kennedy, 14 Dyer St, £2, G Watson 9 Dyer St, £3, Messrs McGee’s, of Ardee Ltd £10.10, Brendan McGahon c/o Central Bar, Dundalk £1, Charles McGee Shop St, Drogheda £1, Messrs Kieran McGee, Ardee £21, Bernard Corcoran Ltd, Dyer St Drogheda £12.10, Brannigan & Matthews Solrs, Laurence St Drogheda £2.20, Emerald Ceili Band £3.
Others who contributed from further afield included Barry’s Hotel, Dublin, £50, Erin’s Isle GFC Finglas £10; Dr Jim Brosnan, Dingle, Co Kerry £5; John Dowling secretary, Offaly Co Board £5; Mr T Mellon, Derry Co Board £5; St Carthage’s GAA Co Offaly £2.
The above is a small sample of contributors which made up in the region of £14,000 that was collected. Central Council of the GAA boosted the fund by £1,000, while there was a guarantee of 12,000 dollars from the Australians.
In those day the individual cost for the tour was in the region of £700, which is equivalent to €10,000 in today’s money.