Determined to give their national school a brighter future parents, locals, and the business community of Glinsk have pulled together in the hopes of raising €50,000 in a raffle with a difference, the first prize being a pedigree Limousin bull.
Glinsk National School attracted plenty of attention this week as news spread of the unique raffle prize which is hoped will come to the rescue of locals who are raising funds to carry out much-needed maintenance works in what has been described as the “heart of the rural community” - and with the name Hero the 15-month-old bull, worth around €3,000, is living up to expectations with ticket sales already soaring.
But there is more than just a pedigree bull to pique people’s interest as there are 19 prizes in total - other top prizes include a family holiday to Lanzarote valued at €1,500, €1,000 worth of concrete products, a €500 Dunnes Stores voucher, a getaway break for two at Kilronan Castle, and an Asus Google Nexus 7 Tablet PC-32GB.
Marty Ward, principal of Glinsk National School located in north-east Galway, told the Advertiser yesterday how it was a “great surprise” when Hero turned up to the school yard. Commending Des and Sharon Joyce, of Lisnageeragh Limousins, for their generosity Mr Ward congratulated all those who donated prizes as well as the parents of pupils and other locals for their hard work and community spirit.
“The school was built in 1983 and now has 50 students. It is the nerve centre of the rural community. It has always been involved in many activities other than rural education. There is a real fear that it is the next building block to disappear. There have been funding cutbacks in all schools and falling numbers in rural areas so the two things have resulted in financial strain. The parents and the local community have come together to do something about it.
“The Glinsk community has always prided itself on being the first in many areas but it has never done this before, to get together to this extent. All the prizes have been donated and we have the benefit of all the ticket sales. It’s an absolutely brilliant example of community spirit in action. It’s people speaking with actions rather than words, taking the bull by the horns, to put the school on a good footing for the future,” said Mr Ward.
The raffle takes place on May 3 and tickets as well as further information are available at www.glinskschool draw.com
