Supermac’s Hosts Christmas Fundraising Evening in aid of Trocaire
24 NOV 2015
Supermac’s will host a Christmas Fundraising Evening in aid of Trocaire on Wednesday, 9th December in the Lough Rea Hotel & Spa. The charity has been affiliated with the Irish Family Restaurant Group for more than 30 years. Following the visit of Supermac’s Directors Pat and Una McDonagh to Zimbabwe with their daughter Marie as part of a Trocaire project overview trip they felt an extra effort to raise funds for the charity was needed this year. The fundraising event will hopefully boost funds generated through the year round till counter collections they facilitate in over 100 Supermac’s Family Restaurants around the country.
All funds generated through the event will go straight to Trocaire’s work in Zimbabwe on water projects in Bulawayo and Masvingo as well as towards a school project. This region of Zimbabwe is very arid with river beds dry for many months throughout the year. Providing a means to irrigate land and clean drinking water ensures that families have enough food to eat for the year. Pat, Una and Marie McDonagh visited one such project when they were in Zimbabwe – the Makhasa Irrigation Project. Part of the funds raised will also go towards Hopeley Farm which was also visited by the McDonagh Family. The school at Hopeley Farm supports children from families affected by HIV.
Speaking ahead of the event Mr. McDonagh says “having spent a few days working with Trocaire in Zimbabwe, I could not have imagined the conditions that people were living in could be as bad as they were. No running water and a scarcity of food – they only have one meal a day – gave very little hope for the future. It totally minimises the challenges that we think we have over here, when you compare what the inhabitants of Zimbabwe and its capital Harare have to endure on a daily basis. Despite all of their challenges the people of Zimbabwe still have a positive and inspiring outlook on life.”
“For over 30 years Supermac’s have been fundraising for Trocaire in our restaurants nationwide” continues Mr. McDonagh. “It is a charity that we always believe is important to support in its work throughout developing countries. Educating and enabling communities and individuals to become self-sufficient is vital to helping them grow and thrive. The charity’s ethos of justice and equality is something every individual is entitled to.”
Trócaire’s Executive Director, Éamonn Meehan says “Trócaire truly appreciates the support it receives from Pat and Una McDonagh, the McDonagh Family and Supermac’s Managers, Staff and Customers. For more than thirty years this support has helped to change the lives of people living in poverty and oppression in the developing world, as well as giving hope of a brighter future.”
Guests attending the Supermac’s Trocaire Christmas Fundraiser will be greeted upon arrival at the Lough Rea Hotel & Spa with a Christmas flavoured reception. This will be followed by a five course gourmet meal created by Lough Rea Hotel & Spa Head Chef Michael O’Neill. MC Ollie Turner, will lead proceedings for the evening which will include entertainment from Galway Bay FM’s Tierney Talks and the Kiltullagh Community Choir who will perform Christmas favourites in their own unique and uplifting style.
Tickets for the Supermac’s Trocaire Christmas Fundraising Evening are available from the Lough Rea Hotel & Spa telephone 091 880 088 or visit www.supermacs.ie for further information.
