The Athlone branch of the Knights of Columbanus, with members of the local community, made a recent fundraising pilgrimage to Clonmacnoise, in the process raising €5,000 for the Laura Lynn Foundation.
Addressing those who made the pilgrimage to Clonmacnoise, Grand Knight, Raymond Joyce, expressed his gratitude all those who contributed to the fundraising occasion.
“We reached our intended target of €5,000 and a word of gratitude is afforded to all those who contributed to our fundraising initiative. Special thanks must also go to Fintan Nally and his family for letting us walk through the lands and his assistance on the day, to Paul Nally for the service of his buggy which enabled the installation of signposts and permitted the carrying of all refreshments on the day.
“Angela Gaffey is to be thanked for arranging the tea room and facilities, while all those who provided food for the welcome break at the half-way stage, Loaves and Fishes, Lennons Fruit and Veg, Harvest Café and Portuguese Flavours, must be commended also.
“We appreciate very much the welcome we received at Clonmacnoise by Fr Brendan O Sullivan. As he stood at the Pope’s Grotto dressed in a monks outfit, he recalled the pilgrims of past times where St Ciaran would welcome his flock to his church. Father Brendan had on display a chalice from 1546. In a lovely ceremony, He addressed the gathering in verse, poetry and song and congratulated all the walkers for following the footsteps of those people some 1000 years ago did and at the same time helping out a worthy charity,” the Grand Knight stated.
The Grand Knight reminded those present on the pilgrimage that the fund will remain open until October 25 and anyone wishing to donate can do so via www.idonate/pilgrimagetoClonmacnoise
