A DONATION of €10,000 has been presented to St Munchin’s Community Centre, Kileely by the Limerick City and County Vintners Association. The €10,000 donation was raised from the proceeds of the 2022 Limerick Vintners Ball, which was held at the Limerick Strand Hotel this past May.
Earlier this year, St Munchin’s Community Centre Age-Friendly Education Campus at St Leilas School was transformed into an emergency evacuation centre for Ukrainian refugees fleeing the ongoing war. The Kileely centre has seen its classrooms repurposed as dormitories, complete with makeshift fold-up beds, and Treaty publicans gave generously to the worthy chosen cause.
St Munchin’s Community Centre manager Linda Ledger thanked the Limerick City Vintners Association for their support, saying: “We are so grateful for the generosity of Limerick publicans and attendees of the recent Limerick Vintners Ball. Many people fleeing Ukraine have lost all possessions and family. This kind donation will go towards providing additional beds for those arriving from Ukraine, and will also help to support those adjusting to life here in Ireland.”
The community centre, which has played an active role in promoting and developing community involvement in Kileely since 2005, has been offered two ‘modular units’ to house additional Ukrainian arrivals for a reduced cost of €32,000.
“We need to raise funds to help pay for these units. Many people fleeing Ukraine have lost all possessions and family. They are tired, scared and worried about what will happen and where they are going,” said Ms Ledger.
The Vintners Federation of Ireland is a national trade organisation for pubs outside of Dublin, working on behalf of members to protect their interests and give advice on industry issues.
Paul Flannery, Chairperson of the Limerick City and County Vintners Association commented: “We wanted to give back locally to the community here in Limerick and we could see the work that Linda and her team are doing here, and its jaw-dropping the amount of work they are doing. We need to meet the basic needs of these people that are fleeing from a war-torn country. They really have nothing and hopefully we will be able to do more to help in the coming months.”
Back row: Paul Flannery, Chairperson of Limerick City & County Vintners; JJ Mulcahy, Old Quarter; Libby Hickey, Souths Pub; James Collins, Collins Pub, and Richard Lynch, I Love Limerick. Front row: Jen and Victoria, Ukrainian Hub residents; Linda Ledger, Manager, St Munchin’s Community Centre; Robert Byrne, Bobby Byrnes, and Natalia, Ukrainian Hub resident. Picture: Kris Luszczki/ilovelimerick
