THE Kerry GAA fundraising venture grossed $1,150,000, bringing the Kerry County Board close to the €6m needed to get the Centre of Excellence and training facility at Currans off the ground.
The final net figure (less expenses) from the golf outings and special events in New York, Chicago and Boston hasn’t been finalised yet but the New York Gala, grossed $850,000 on one night alone.
It was a sell-out event at the prestigious Plaza Hotel on Fifth Avenue, with 420 people paying $1,000 for their seat at the event.
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Jimmy Deenihan, Kerry TD and Minister for Diaspora Affairs, addressed the audience of Kerry supporters and New York businessmen. An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, addressed the audience via pre-recorded video. The Consul General of Ireland in New York, Barbara Jones, was in attendance.
Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, GAA legend, was the honorary commentator for the evening, and he received a formal Proclamation from the City of New York honouring him for his contribution to the Gaelic Games. It was presented to him by New York City Council member, Elizabeth Crowley.
A portrait of Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh painted by West Kerry artist Liam O’Neill was the highlight of the auction, and it was purchased by a Kerry native living in New York for $24,000. The five paintings by Liam O’Neill auctioned on the night together grossed $96,000.
Other Kerry creatives who donated work to the auction to benefit the Centre of Excellence included fashion designer Don O’Neill from Ballyheigue, Dingle painter Carol Cronin, goldsmith Brian de Staic, Killarney painter Paul Downey, West Kerry potter Louis Mulcahy, and painters Peter Knuttel and John Hurley. Casks of whiskey from Dingle Distillery were also popular.
Big sports figures also supported the fundraising efforts by contributing items for auction, including top golfer Rory McIlroy, top American jockey Johnny Velazquez, famed hurler Henry Shefflin, record-breaking runner Usain Bolt, and South African rugby player Jean de Villiers.
The Kerry County Board hopes to have full planning for the Currans training facility in place by autumn, with groundbreaking soon afterwards and completion by early next summer.