Galway has always been a town to do things a little differently, and raising money for a good cause is no exception. Instead of a restrained black tie affair, Galway's Monster Organic Ball is a thoroughly enjoyable celebratory event, combining an enormous as-much-as-you-can-eat organic banquet, full free bar, and 10 hours of live music, entertainment and dancing.
Held in a luxury heated marquee in Oranmore on Saturday October 11, this year's ball promises to outdo even the previous years in terms of quality and quantity.
Thanks to the ball's gourmet organic sponsors, revellers will enjoy a whole host of culinary delights, including a spit roast pig, all the while knowing that for each ticket sold the lives of 37 children in Africa are saved from the effects of disease, poverty and hunger.
Over the past four years, the Monster Organic Ball has raised hundreds of thousands of euros for the charity AIDS Partnership with Africa, which helps the charity to carry out a great range of projects, working to alleviate the horrendous effects of the African AIDS pandemic.
APA helps countless children rebuild their shattered lives, such as 11-year-old Paulos, who was orphaned when his mother died of AIDS and had been living on the streets of Gondar, Ethiopia, for two years. After spending time at the APA shelter, his social worker helped Paulos find his aunt, Aster. Seven months later, Paulos is resettled with his aunt and her family and is back at school.
This year, the Monster Organic Ball's organisers are aiming to raise €150,000 – a sum which is only possible due to the generosity of their sponsors.
The Monster Organic Ball team are not just thinking outside the box when it comes to the event itself. In a novel idea, one of their sponsors, Tenerife Holidays, in addition to contributing to the cost of running the ball, is donating luxury four star holidays.
For every ticket purchased to this year's Monster Organic Ball, the holder will be entered into a weekly prize draw to win a holiday, and any ticket holders who don't win will automatically be entered into the next week's draw.
Given that only 750 tickets will be sold, the odds of winning are high, so buy your tickets to the ball and in addition to helping a good cause and having a fabulous night out, you might be sunning yourself on a tropical beach before too long.
The event will take place in Tossie Mogan’s field (directly opposite Quality Hotel ) in Oranmore on Saturday October 11 from 2pm to 12am. Tickets cost €200 and include unlimited food, beverages, full bar & entertainment. To purchase tickets contact Marguerite at (087 ) 2577644 or Joe at (086 ) 2618670, or visit www.monsterorganicball.com or www.APA.ie
• For details see ad on page 38.
