A night in memory of the late renowned veterinary surgeon, John Gayer and in aid of the Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association will take place in the Dalton Inn, Claremorris, County Mayo, this weekend.
The fundraising event (auction and raffle), which will kick off at 8 pm on Saturday, March 11th, is armed with the support of local businesses, fellow veterinary colleagues and practices, farmers and the wider public
In the summer of 2017, the married father-of-three experienced “some” problems; his symptoms quickly escalated, and in January 2018, he received the diagnosis of Motor Neuron Disease (MND).
He was confined to a wheelchair and required full-time care, 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, which his wife, family, neighbours, and friends provided at his home in Claremorris.
The veterinary practitioner, who lived and worked in Claremorris, County Mayo and was originally from Co Cork, passed away from MND in 2019.
Family and friends have since held various fundraising events – including an online auction, as previously reported by That’s Farming – for the charity, which played a “vital” role in helping others who suffer from the debilitating disease.
2023 fundraising event
Speaking about the latest fundraising initiative, veterinary practitioner, Sarah Ryan, MVB of DKD Veterinary Services, in Claremorris, County Mayo, told That’s Farming editor, Catherina Cunnane:
“All proceeds from the door (€10), auction and raffle will be going to the Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association.”
“The night is also to remember our dear friend, colleague and local veterinary surgeon, the late John Gayer.”
“All items have been kindly donated by the amazing farming community of Claremorris and surrounding areas.”
“Music will be kindly provided by Concorde, and also there will be some surprises on the night. This will be a night to remember,” Ryan concluded.
The fundraiser follows on the heels of last year’s event at Aurivo Ballinrobe Mart on March 2nd, which raised €32,455.50.
Auction items
Some of the auction items catalogued to date (total list pending finalisation) for the 2023 event are listed below:
Cattle items:
| LOT | ITEM | SPONSOR |
| C1 | Simmental in-calf heifer | |
| C2 | Irish Moiled-cross in-calf heifer | |
| C3 | Pedigree FR heifer weanling | Brendan Gildea |
| C4 | FR heifer 9 months | |
| C5 | FR heifer 9 months | |
| C6 | FR heifer 9 months | |
| C7 | FR heifer 9 months | |
| C8 | AA heifer calf | Ml Gibbons |
| C9 | FR bull calf | Ml Gibbons |
| C10 | AA bull calf | Mark Devane |
| C11 | Bull calf | Ml Rattigan |
| C12 | AA heifer calf | Jim Egan |
| C13 | AA heifer calf | Jim Egan |
| C14 | AA heifer calf | Jim Egan |
| C15 | AA heifer calf | Jim Egan |
| C16 | AA heifer calf | Summerhill Livestock |
| C17 | AA heifer calf | Summerhill Livestock |
| C18 | AA heifer calf | Summerhill Livestock |
| C19 | AA heifer calf | Summerhill Livestock |
| C20 | AA heifer calf | Summerhill Livestock |
| C21 | BB calf | Malachy Morris |
| C22 | 5 X Fiston straws | Martin Regan |
| C23 | 5 X Ewdenvale Ivor | Sean Prendergast |
| C24 | 5 X Pottlereagh Mark | Sean Prendergast |
| C25 | 2 X CXY (CH) | Padraic Tougy |
| C26 | 2 X Ivor (LM 2014) 90% female | John McGreal |
| C27 | 2 X EBY (LM) 90% female | John McGreal |
| C28 | 5 X 4159 – Loki (CH) | John McGreal |
| C29 | 5 X 2188 – Joskins (LM) | John McGreal |
| C30 | 5 X LM 7416 – Powerful Proper | Progressive Genetics |
| C31 | 5 X CH 8262 – Oak | Progressive Genetics |
| C32 | €50 Voucher Joyce Hoof care | Ger Joyce |
| C33 | €50 Voucher Joyce Hoof care | Ger Joyce |
Horse lots:
| LOT | ITEM | SPONSOR |
| H1 | Connemara mare covering
Lourigan Windy Rebel or Kilmaine JJ |
Mary Connelly |
| H2 | Connemara mare covering
Rogaire na Locha or Abbeyside Silver |
Padraic Hallinan and Kate Daly |
| H3 | Garryduff Jar of hearts | James Joyce |
| H4 | €100 voucher LC Photography | Lorraine Cribbon |
| H4 | €100 Chloe Goggins Photography
|
Chloe Goggins |
| H5 | 2 horse or pony clippings | Colm Flynn |
| H6 | Welsh pony covering
Airy Hope Moonlight |
Cloonan Horses (Tom Fitzgerald) |
Forage:
| LOT | ITEM | SPONSOR |
| F1 | 3 X round bales hay | Paul Mullins |
| F2 | 3 X round bales straw | Paul Mullins |
| F3 | 3 X round bales haylage | Christy Rattigan |
| F4 | 3 X round bales hay | Peter Kelly |
| F5 | 3 X round bales straw | James Hession |
| F6 | 2 X round bales haylage | Peter McHugh |
| F7 | 10 X round bales hay | Patrick Duffy (The Neale) |
| F8 | 4 X round bales silage | Ml Bowens |
| F9 | 4 X round bales silage | Tim Lavin Snr |
| F10 | 4 X round bales silage | Tim Lavin Jnr |
| F11 | 4 X round bales silage | Mtn Ger Delaney |
| F12 | 2 X round bales hay | Mtn Ger Delaney |
| F13 | 2 x round bales silage | Paddy O’Malley |
| F14 | 2 X round bales straw | Paddy O’Malley |
General:
LOT |
ITEM |
SPONSOR |
| G1 | Hyraulic log splitter | Malones Machinery |
| G2 | €250 Voucher nutrias feed | Aurivo (Joe Slattery) |
| G3 | €100 voucher western Co-op | Padraig Dolan and family |
| G4 | €250 BER Energy rating assessment | Mike Trench |
| G5 | 3 X day and night gurteen cattery and kennels | Maud Henry |
| G6 | €100 Voucher Dalton Inn Hotel | James and Ann McArdle |
| G7 | 2 tonne bags of timber plus delivery | Martin Heaney and family |
| G8 | 2 tonne bags of timber plus delivery | Martin Heaney and family |
| G9 | 2 tonne bags of timber plus delivery | Martin Heaney and family |
| G10 | Puppy portrait | Marian Shally |
Sheep:
| LOT | ITEM | SPONSOR |
| S1 | Ewe in-lamb | |
| S2 | Ewe in-lamb | |
| S3 | Ewe in-lamb | Liam Coen |
| S4 | Texel-X hogget | Ger Vahey |
| S5 | Texel-X hogget | John Campbell |
| S6 | Texel-X hogget | James Hession |
| S7 | ½ lamb for deep freeze | Joe Ryan |
| S8 | €100 scanning voucher | John Scarry |
| S9 | 2 X pet lambs 5 weeks | Ernest Prendergast |
More information:
Updates and preview images of lots on DKD Veterinary – John Dixon’s Facebook page.
