13 January 2012
Steady hands and nimble footwork, yes, but exemplary manners may not be what you immediately associate with the Antrim Senior Football team. However, all these qualities will soon be on display at a special ‘VIP breakfast’ at Fáilte Restaurant on the Falls Road.
The county footballers will be exchanging their Saffron jerseys for aprons and notepads on Saturday, January 28 when they will serve a host of well-known faces a tasty breakfast.
The charity fundraiser is in aid of St Mary’s Grammar School’s ‘Project Zambia’ appeal. For over ten years St Mary’s have been part of the Edmund Rice Developing World Immersion Programme, which encourages relationships between schools in Ireland and schools in the developing world.
Each year St Mary’s send a group of students and teachers to Zambia to help complete building projects. To date they have built five schools as well as housing facilities for people suffering from HIV and Aids, and have also funded two orphanages and several feeding programmes to help bring clean water and food to the children of Zambia.
The aim for 2012 is the building of a special school for physically and mentally disabled children. The 30-strong St Mary’s group will travel to Zambia over the Easter holidays to begin building a school in the district of Kiyoma.
However, the work will not be cheap, with final costs estimated at around £20,000. Enter the VIP breakfast and the Saffron stars.
The fundraising breakfast will see famous faces including West Belfast MP Paul Maskey, boxers Paddy Barnes and Brian Magee, sports minister Carál Ní Chuilín, Lord Mayor Niall Ó Donnghaile and a host of other well-known faces being served their breakfast by Antrim football stars including St Mary’s past pupils Paddy Cunningham, Aodhán Gallagher and Michael Armstrong.
The idea was the brainchild of current St Mary’s teacher and Antrim player Paddy Cunnigham, who will be travelling to Zambia this year, and Fáilte Restaurant owners Sean Duffy and Gerard Carlile.
“The idea came about after a meeting with Sean and Gerard, who are past Sammarians,” explained Paddy.
“I then spoke to a few lads on the Antrim county board and a few players and we all thought it would be a bit of a novelty for Antrim. There may be a few dropped plates and spilt cups of tea, but it should be good craic. Obviously to me as a past pupil and a teacher in St Mary’s, Project Zambia has always been of massive, massive importance.
“I always wanted to go as a student and now I’m lucky enough to get to go as a teacher. It’s great we have the support of Fáilte Restaurant, the Antrim footballers and of course the VIPs themselves, who have agreed to help this worthwhile cause.”
Some tickets are still available for the event and can be purchased through Fáilte Restaurant at 145-147 Falls Road on (028) 90 243846 or from St Mary’s Grammar School, Glen Road, on (028) 90294000.
If you are unable to attend the breakfast morning but would like to donate to the Project Zambia fund, please contact St Mary’s CBGS office on 90 294000 or Paddy Cunningham at paddy.kitireland.cun ningham@gmail.com
Courtesy of Conor McLoughlin, Andersonstown News
