CUMANN na mBAN FUND RAISER , FRIDAY 18th JUNE 2010, DUBLIN : report and pics.
A very successful fund-raising function for Cumann na mBan was held last night (Friday 18th June 2010) in the 79'r Pub in Ballyfermot , Dublin : the function room was almost full to capacity (over 250 tickets had been sold in advance) and the group , 'The Druids' , didn't disappoint : within an hour of going on stage, people (still sober!) were up dancing !
The fact that the Cumann na mBan organisation never once deviated from its Republican principles was mentioned from the stage , to sustained applause : that it played a full part in the 1916 Rising , rejected the Treaty of Surrender in 1921 ,and rejected further so-called 'compromises' and 'half-way houses' in the 1940's and 1950's , in the late 1960's , early 70's and in the mid 1980's , and that it remains to this day an uncompromising revolutionary Irish Republican organisation.
There were nine prizes up for grabs in the raffle , on a 'first up best dressed' basis (ie first winner picks his/her own prize from the prizes on offer!) : a beautiful 'one-off-job' presentation 'Padraig Pearse' candle (donated on the night by Cathy) , a 'Leaders Of 1916' bodhron , a framed 'Too Long A Sacrifice' Hunger-Striker plaque, a framed 'Inside The GPO' print , a book on Cumann na mBan, authored by Cal McCarthy, a book by Donal Nevin on James Connolly entitled 'Between Comrades' , two Irish Republican CD's by , and from , 'The Druids' and a presentation box containing a bottle of Hennessy Cognac. As usual, I stumbled away empty-handed.....!
We publish a few photographs from the event here, with a proper report and more pics to be published in the July issue of 'Saoirse' , which goes to print on Wednesday the 7th of that month -
'The Druids' on stage.
A section of the crowd.
Cumann na mBan 'shop' at the gig.
Raffle prizes....
...and a very special raffle prize (thanks again, Cathy!).
Some of those in attendance.
'The Druids' in action....
...after the stage was set!
Cumann na mBan - 'Women In Struggle'.Finally : thanks to Cumann na mBan for organising this function, to the management and staff of the 79'r pub for looking after us so well, to Cathy and everyone else that helped with raffle prizes, to Mags , Josephine , Róisin, Frank , Robbie, Pat and his crew of 'bouncers'and to the people that made it their business to get there and , of course , to 'The Druids'. A good night (and early morning!) was had by all , with plans already in motion for another gig , in the 79'r , for late July 2010. Watch this space.....
Thanks!
Sharon.