Erne some cash this Saturday
Mick McGrath is known far and wide as a ref with plenty of bottle. So much in fact that he has agreed to donate some to Aodh Ruadh's Bord na nÓg. The bottle in question is a three litre (5.25 pint) bottle filled to the spout with change chipped in over the years by the generous punters of Mick's hostelry, the Bridgend bar in Ballyshannon. Bord na nÓg have taken advantage of the gift to run a draw to help raise funds in support of their contribution to the Centre of Excellence Development currently underway at Munday's Field in Ballyshannon.
Underage players and Bord na nÓg members have been out and about selling lines for guesses as to the cash value of the bottle's contents. With the bottle weighing in at 13.15kgs (2st. 1lb.) guesses have ranged from €300 all the way up to €2,000. If you think you have a good eye for the small change you can seek out an underage player with a draw card or nip into the Bridgend where Mick will be happy to let you eyeball the bottle and register your estimate with him. Lines are only €2 or three for €5. The nearest guess will win €100. The next two nearest guesses after that will win €50 each and the next two nearest guesses after that again will each win one ticket in the Aodh Ruadh Centre of Excellence Draw worth €30.
The final answer will be revealed when the bottle is burst open and the contents counted at a social night on Saturday in the Bridgend bar. With Donegal's encounter against Leitrim at 7pm the bottle bursting will take place at 11.30pm to allow county followers time to get back and take part in proceedings. There'll be a bit of music on the night as well as a number of Bord na nÓg members who will be happy to take your guesses, before they have to get down the serious business of counting the coppers.
All players should return their completed cards to their team manager or a member of the Bord na nÓg committee by Friday evening. Completed cards can also be left into the Bridgend Bar.
Mick McGrath of the Bridgend Bar, Ballyshannon, centre right, presents the bottle of change to the Chairman of Aodh Ruadh Bord na nÓg, Jim Kane, centre left. Also present are Paddy Kelly, Bord na nÓg committee member, far left and Eunan Doyle, Chairman of Ballyshannon Town Council and Bord na nÓg committee member.
Report Filed: 16 February 2007