A PRE-CHRISTMAS scramble to raise €20,000 for resurfacing works at the cemetery in Rossmore exceeded expectations with the Kilmeen and Castleventry Community Development Association collecting far in excess of that over a three-week period.
The association had until the end of the calendar year to raise the €20,000 they needed to contribute to the €45,000 that had already been set aside by Cork County Council.
If they hadn’t raised the money, the council contribution would have been returned to central funds at the end of the fiscal year, so the pressure was really on.
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An iDonate page raised €20,000 alone, but a letter campaign, social media posts, and an article in The Southern Star on December 6th, highlighting the urgency of the situation, also helped to mobilise people in the community, the county and the country. Generous donations even came in from America.
Jason Collins, chairman of the association, confirmed that they have, so far, received 250 donations, which includes another €10,000 in cash and cheques handed in to the officers of the association.
In addition to all of that, several generous donations were made by Fr Tom Hayes and the Parish Council; local employer Keohane Readymix Ltd; as well as significant donations from a previous organisation called the Ballygurteen Race Committee.
‘We are absolutely astounded to find that we could raise that amount in just three weeks,’ said Jason.
‘The fundraiser was a resounding success and thanks must go to the team who delivered around 330 letters to households in the region in the first week of December.’
The chairman also thanked Cork County Council, which took the project on faith, All Black Tarmacadam Ltd, who did the work, and Senator Noel O’Donovan, who lives locally in Ballygurteen and assisted in getting the project over the line.
Not only was the money raised on time, Jason reported that all of the works at Rossmore Cemetery have been completed to a very high standard.
Additional funds, over and above the €20,000, will be used for other improvements at the cemetery in Rossmore, as well as the one in Kilmeen.
Meanwhile, the revamped graveyard at Rossmore will be officially opened at 2pm on Saturday January 31st and all are welcome to attend.
