FUNDRAISING is at the heart of any GAA club. It’s often the difference between keeping the lights on in the clubhouse or not. Responding to their local club’s call to action, the ladies of South Liberties GAA have put some stylish plans in place – and they’ve made it fashion.
February 9 will see the club host a fashion and lifestyle evening with the hopes of raising funds for the facilities at the club’s Dooley Park grounds. Their biggest ambition is to build a ball wall to assist with year-round practicing and training.
Eileen Hannan from South Liberties GAA said the fashion-forward event is about the women of the club, particularly mothers, coming together to raise money while putting on something a little different just for the ladies.
“Some of us have kids in the club and some of us have kids that have left the club and moved on to the seniors,” Eileen told The Ensemble. “Our chairman has been asking people to come up with some ideas for fundraising so we thought to do something completely for the ladies.”
Fiona Hayes has signed up to host the event. The Limerick woman is best known for her role in the glam squad on RTE’s Today Show. Pat Walker from the Catwalk Modelling Agency is also on board.
A night of lifestyle luxury
The night will naturally feature a full fashion show, with items from local boutiques and larger stores (including Brown Thomas and Shaws), as well as some added fun in the form of makeup demos and pop up shops to give attendees a chance to support local.
The night of lifestyle luxury will take place at the Ballyneety Golf Club, where the fundraising committee gathered this week to launch the upcoming event.
“The fashion show is being held by all the local ladies and all the guys are on board. We’re going to have a little bit of a fashion show with Brown Thomas on board, we’ve Pamela Scott, Shaws, and loads of local boutiques,” Bernadine Grogan, of the organising committee, said.
“There will be beautiful spot prizes on the night. We’ve got some really nice necklaces from Keanes. It’s going to be a fun night and a relaxed evening – and the goodies are amazing.”
The makeup demo will be hosted by AYU Makeup, a vegan makeup brand set up by Irish woman Suzie O’Neill.
Attendees won’t go away empty handed either, with some stunning goodie bags available on the night. Bellamianta, BPerfect, AYU, and Butlers Chocolate are all contributing to the goodie bags and spot prizes up for grabs.
‘A bit of craic for the girls’
Bernadine added: “It’s going to be a nice, fun, relaxed evening. After the January blues it’s going to be a bit of craic for the girls.”
Connolly’s Menswear are also on board to add a little something for the men on the night as well.
South Liberties chairman John Godfrey gushed over the ladies’ fundraising ambitions.
“This evening I pass on my sincere thanks to everybody who has supported this event in any way,” he said at the launch.
“In particular, on behalf of South Liberties GAA Club, I wish to express my sincere thanks to Eileen Hannan, Bernadine Grogan, Anne Marie O’Neill, Ann Moynihan, Aideen Fitzpatrick, Olivia Hogan, Andreena O’Doherty, Fiona Rellis, and Mary O’Brien for their hard work.”
Mr Godfrey also expressed his thanks to the local businesses and sponsors taking part, including Ballyneety Golf Club, Bobby Byrnes, Morning Star Photography, Ballyneety Driving Range, and Spicy B jewellery and accessories.
The fashion and lifestyle event par excellence kicks off at 7pm on February 9 in the Ballyneety Golf Club. Tickets are €25 and available from Eventbrite and on the door on the night.
