A SURPRISE sporting legend will be the guest speaker at the 2011 Mayor’s Ball, in the Strand Hotel on Friday, May 6.
Mayor Maria Byrne has nominated The Lourdes Invalid Fund and St Gabriel’s School to benefit from the Ball, which will have a sporting theme. As Mayor of Limerick, I’m delighted to be able to support two very special Limerick charities which I have a long association with,” said Cllr Byrne.
“This year will be my 21st year going to Lourdes as a helper with the Lourdes Invalid Fund and I’ve been on the development board of St Gabriel’s School for the last 13 years.
Both the Lourdes Invalid Fund and St Gabriel’s School have expressed their appreciation to the Mayor for nominating their organisations as beneficiaries.
The Limerick Pilgrimage to Lourdes has been in existence since the 1930s and growing in strength, it takes place in June every year.
Pilgrimage Director, Fr Donal McNamara, said funds raised will go towards the cost of bringing in excess of 100 invalids to Lourdes this year.
“As well as our invalids, we need to bring a large back up medical team with us and they take time out from their work for the trip. We have organised quite a few fundraising activities this year”.
St Gabriel’s School in Dooradoyle, is a voluntary organisation and registered charity which provides a range of education and therapy services to children and young adults with physical, intellectual, sensory disabilities and developmental delay.
CEO, Máire O’Leary, said that all the centre’s fundraising activities this year are focused on meeting the annual running costs of the hydrotherapy pool which is of great benefit to adults and children with disabilities.
Miss Limerick Gemma Reilly and Mayor of Limerick Maria Byrne launching the 2011’ Mayors Ball with Kate Sheahan, St Gabriel’s Centre and Carmel Sheridan, Lourdes Invalid Fund the beneficiaries of the event.
