News

NDC Ploughing Celebrity Penalty Shootout raises €10.400 for Concern

The National Dairy Council has presented a cheque for €10,400 to Concern – proceeds of the NDC Celebrity Penalty Shoot Out which took place during each of the three days of the recent National Ploughing Championships.

“The Penalty Shoot Out has helped us in the NDC to highlight that participating in sport can be fun as part of a balanced lifestyle,” explains Helen Brophy, Chief Executive of the National Dairy Council. “However with half of the world’s under-nourished people living on small farms of two hectares or less, we genuinely hope we have helped to make more people aware of the importance of Concern’s work in supporting the rural communities in developing countries – particularly in this, Concern’s 40th Anniversary Year.”

Expressing his gratitude to the National Dairy Council, Concern Chief Executive Tom Arnold said the donation will be used to fund a major project on revitalising degradated land in Wolayita Zone, Ethiopia. Seedlings, shrubs and bushes are being purchased by Concern and these are being planted by the local community in order to reduce soil erosion and restore the fertility of the land for crop production.

Sports Stars & Broadcasters

Different personalities took place in the NDC Penalty Shoot Out on each day of the Ploughing Championships in Cuffestrange, Co Kilkenny (23rd-25th September 2008).

These ranged from ex republic of Ireland soccer international Ray Houghton and Irish soccer legends Mick Leech (Shamrock Rovers) and Paul Osam (St. Patrick’s Athletic); to George Hook, GAA Kerry All Star Marc OSea and hurlers Richie Power (Kilkenny) and Joe Canning (Galway). From the Football Association of Ireland Chief Executive John Delaney and FAI League Director Fran Gavin both took part.

Broadcasters who took part over the three days included RTE’s Derek Mooney, Con Murphy, Damien O’Reilly, Darragh McCullough (Ear to the Ground), weatherman Ger Fleming, Joe O’Brien from the newsroom and Nikki Hayes (2FM).

The Guild of Agricultural Journalists also had a strong team participating, including Chairman Pat O’Keeffe (Irish Farmers Journal), Stephen Cadogan (Farm Exam), Declan O’Brien (Farming Independent), Matt O’Keeffe (Irish Farmers Monthly), Michael Miley (President, All Ireland Guild of Agricultural Journalists) and David Markey (outgoing president of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists).

Farm Leaders & Queens

The Irish Farming community were also represented in the penalty shoot out by personalities ranging from Padraig Walshe (President, IFA), Catherine Buckley (President, Macra na Feirme), Jackie Cahill (President, ICMSA) and Malcolm Thompson (President, ICSA) to National Dairy Council Board members including Chairman Dominic Cronin and Vice Chairman Henry Corbally, Eamonn Bray and Gerald Quain.

The final penalty in the NDC Penalty Shoot out, was taken by Anna Marie McHugh from the National Ploughing Association – the winner of the 2008 Queen of the Plough.

The National Dairy Council would like to thank the Football Association of Ireland (FAI Eircom League of Ireland), RTE, the Guild of Agricultural Journalists and the National Ploughing Association for their support organising the event.

ENDS

Issued by: Antonina Ni Dhuinn, Progress Communications Tel: 01-2766117 or 087-2653683 nina@progresspr.ie