Super auction boost for Newport GAA
A full house of supporters, ‘celebrity auctioneer’ on the rostrum, and widely varied lots on offer for the bidders, the menu was set for an exciting evening.
Three hours later the level of expectation had been exceeded at Ryan's Bar where Newport GAA Club exciting auction of the year had delivered a centrepiece of entertainment like no other.
The crowd enjoyed every moment of the proceedings and the frantic bidding for the variety of lots on offer, had added up to a very handsome boost to the coffers of the club for the enhancement of benefit of facilities for the players.
Newport GAA chairman, Michael Coffey, told the gathering that the idea came from the suggestion of a couple of the supporters for a celebrity auction towards which they were willing to be generous sponsors.
“We are now catering for 28 teams across all grades and the facilities for training in preparation for the matches are creaking under pressure for more space to be provided,” he said.
He went on to explain that the club has advanced plans to further improve their facilities, but there are challenges all the way and funding their operations each season, while trying to improve facilities is an ongoing financial strain.
However, a few hours later the club funds had been handsomely boosted after 24 lots offered during the 'auction' fetched crazy prices in the same spirit of support for the club as the generosity of the donors of the lots.
On the rostrum was ‘celebrity auctioneer’, Jackie Cahill, the Strokestown, Co Roscommon man, who rose to national fame after his performance as a guest on the Two Johnnies popular TV show on RTÉ, ‘Late Night Lock In’.
He took nods and winks, shakes of their head and hand signals, from left, right and centre of the house to boost the bids for a quality Simmental heifer with the first lot of the auction selling for €3,500 the top price of the night.
A yearling heifer sold for €2,420, while a new home was found for a yearling AA bullock at €1,860, and a yearling AA heifer sold for €1,650.
“Are you still with me?” auctioneer Jackie said to the man at the back of the room as he continued to tally the bids and sell 50 bales of silage for €1,300, 50 tons of 804 stone made €1,120 and a ton of meal sold for €1,000.
The warm weather didn't deter a load of timber fetching €700 or a trailer of timber selling for €480, while the Sunday roast was also a hit with a freezer ready lamb selling for €600.
Tim Floyd kept tally as clerk of the bids and club committee members delivered the courtesy finger food to the tables to fuel their energy.
Last lot sold and everyone enjoying themselves the night was an entertainment and financial success for the club with a generous measure of thanks and appreciation to all of the sponsors of the lots and supporters of the auction.