Oldcastle fundraisers' pride as new bus takes to road

The new minibus purchased by the Friends of Oldcastle and District Alzheimer's Day Care Centre was officially launched recently and an ecumenical blessing took place, attended by a number of supporters, staff, clients and committee members. The event was the culmination of months of fundraising by the Friends to purchase the minibus for the local day care centre. The centre caters for 15 clients on Mondays and Wednesdays and is located in the local health care centre on the Kells Road. It caters for clients from throughout the north Meath and surrounding area, including parts of Westmeath and Cavan. The group had raised approximately €45,000 by September 2010, and the minibus was delivered to the day care centre earlier this year. The blessing was performed by Fr Ray Kelly, PP, Oldcastle and Anne Pallin represented the Church of Ireland. Ms Maureen Caffrey, area director of services for older people with the HSE, spoke on behalf of the HSE, and Mary Devin, chairperson, on behalf of the Friends' committee. The cutting of the ribbon was performed by Aisling Dunne, Alzheimer's nurse with the day care centre, and Maureen Caffrey. Those in attendance were treated to light refreshments afterwards in the Oldcastle House Hotel. The Friends of Oldcastle and District Alzheimer's Day Care Centre is a small group which was set up in early 2009 in Oldcastle, originally as a support group for people who are caring for relatives or clients who suffer from Alzheimer's Disease. However, in May 2009, the group took on the role of fundraising to raise funds for a badly needed minibus to transport clients to and from the day care centre in Oldcastle. Since then, the group raised the amount needed to purchase the minibus through a series of very successful events and individual donations, and it has been continuing to receive donations. The target now is to continue fundraising to build a garage to house the minibus and it is anticipated that further fundraising activities will continue during the year. The events which helped to raise the funds so far have included a variety concert in the Show Hall, Oldcastle, a very successful vintage tractor run, organised by Oldcastle and Nobber Vintage Tractor Clubs, a cookery demonstration in the Forge Restaurant in Carnaross, a concert by Fr Ray Kelly in Oldcastle, an afternoon tea dance in Moylagh Community Centre, a cookery demonstration in Crover House Hotel, Mountnugent; a three-county tractor run organised by the local Vintage Tractor Club, and a concert in Oldcastle Church by the K&S Accordion Orchestra and Fr Ray Kelly were among the fundraising event which were held. Donations have also been received from many members of the public and other fundraising groups and events, including the Dromone Duck Derby, Oldcastle Bridge Club, Oldcastle Autocross, a karaoke night, mini-marathons and sponsored walks, mountain-climbing and book sales. A large amount of donations were also received from individual members of the public, many of whom wish to remain anonymous, as tokens of gratitude or appreciation for the wonderful work carried out in the centre. The chairperson, Mary Devin, extended her thanks and that of the committee to all those who had attended the blessing, those who had contributed so generously over the past months to the fund, particularly the people in Oldcastle and the surrounding areas who have donated so much time and time again. Thanks also went to those who had organised events and who had assisted in any way at those events, including the ticket sellers, the committee members and anyone who had been involved in reaching the target for the minibus. She wished all who travelled in the minibus safe journeys and hoped that the day care centre clients would enjoy their new mode of transport.