A rural-based GAA club is raffling a brand-new Amazone fertiliser spreader to raise much-needed funds.
Covid-19 restrictions have prompted St. Gabriel’s GAA Club, based in east Galway, to host its first virtual fundraiser.
Impact of Covid-19
Speaking to That’s Farming, a club spokesperson said: “Like all GAA clubs in Ireland, this year has been challenging off the pitch for St Gabriel’s GAA Club.”
“We are based just outside the town of Ballinasloe. Fundraising is one of our toughest tasks year-on-year, but Covid-19 stopped all fundraising in its tracks this year.”
“For the past few years, our main fundraising raffles have been farming-related, vintage tractors, trailers, etc., keeping in touch with our rural roots.”
“Club officers, coaches, players, supporters, and sponsor all groups consist of farmers in some way or form.”
“But this year, our opportunity seemed lost with our main point of sales the Ballinasloe Horse Fair cancelled due to ongoing restrictions.”
A chairman’s lightbulb moment
“Step forward, our chairman, who didn’t rest on his laurels nor would he give in to losing out on our annual raffle.”
He brought his idea of a virtual raffle to a club executive meeting. The chairman proposed the concept of offering a brand-new Amazone fertiliser spreader as a raffle prize. “A step into the unknown for us but something which was embraced by all.”
The club is selling a maximum of 500 tickets for €20/ticket. “The quicker they sell, the faster we can announce a winner and that winner can bring their new prize home. The club will draw the winning ticket live.”
“With online sales, it opens it up to people from all over the country, not just our locality. We would encourage people to buy a ticket and help support our club.”
“If you’re not in you can’t win. As this will be our first online raffle, we hope its success will mean we can bring many more items of farm machinery to raffle after that.”
Information
To be in with a chance to win, click here.
