Early Christmas In Tracton As Vintage Festival Donates €29,000
Writes JJ Hurley
With over 11 different charitable organisations and schools benefiting from a €29,000 windfall as a result of the superb efforts of the Roberts Cove Vintage Festival, the general feeling of those attending last Friday’s presentation was best summed up by Mr Philip O’Donoghue.
Having accepted a cheque for €17, 500 on behalf of the Tracton Community Council, Mr. O’ Donoghue said: ”This committee, though small in number, their combined talent, vision and ability completely outweighs that number, for me that is the main reason why the vintage festival continues to be so successful.’
It was Mr. O’ Donoghue who also reminded the gathering that since the festival’s inception 11 years ago a total of €128,475 has been shared with numerous benefactors.
Indeed, the Community Council has been one of those benefactors, with the Annual Roberts Cove Festival providing an important source of revenue, particularly for its Tracton Arts and Community Centre project, which will now see its remaining debt halved as a result of the latest donation.
Preceding Mr O’ Donoghue and the Tracton Community Council at the annual presentation at Tracton Arts and Community Centre on Friday last were a total of ten grateful organisation, all of whom expressed their deep gratitude for their individual donations.
Included in the line-up were the Tracton Defibrillator Group, Tracton Community Market, Tracton Athletic Club, Tracton Underage GAA Club, Tracton Playgroup. Templebreedy National School, Scoil Naomh Fionan, Knocknamanagh NS, Tracton Chapter of SVP and Kinsale Youth Support Services.
Before making the presentation, the Chairman of the Roberts Cove Vintage Festival, Mr. Jim Griffin, set out the significant logistics involved in running the festival, with over 80 volunteers giving up their August Bank Holiday to ensure the success of the festival.
As well as thanking his fellow committee members, the public and sponsors for their continued support, he also thanked the local landowners, including the Good and Twomey families, ‘without whom the festival simply couldn’t go ahead, ’remarked Mr. Griffin