New Tipperary primary schoolchildren present their fundraising cheque to local hospital

The success of Bunscoil Na Cathrach’s first joint Christmas Market that took place just before Christmas 2022 was evident last week as it was announced that the fantastic amount of €2,400 was raised by the boys and girls on the day for St Teresa’s Hospital in Clogheen. 

One morning recently all the fifth class pupils along with their teachers, Sylvia Sheehan and Yvonne Fahy and principal Brendan Horan gathered in the Assembly Hall to welcome Ann Walsh, Director of Services at St Teresa’s   to the school to accept the proceeds. 

Ann Walsh said to the pupils on the morning: “As an ex pupil of Our Lady of Mercy Primary School myself and I thank you for choosing St Teresa’s to receive the funds you raised at your Christmas Market. I’m truly blown away by the amount! Thank you for all the hard work you obviously put in, thanks also to your teachers, parents, principal Horan and anyone else who donated to our cause.

“As people get older they have more health problems and they come to us to receive respite after illness or recuperation after an operation. Hospitals by nature can be very clinical places but Clogheen is different. We try to create a lovely atmosphere with cosy surroundings and beautiful gardens among other things and these funds will go a long way towards making life a little nicer for patients that use our facilities.”

In response to Ann’s kind words principal Brendan Horan said: “We appreciate the efforts that hospitals make to constantly try to upgrade their facilities. St Teresa’s is known to be a warm and caring facility, we all know someone who has needed to use it at some stage and we hope these funds help. Well done to all the children and teachers for their efforts.” 

Teacher Sylvia Sheehan commented that “the children worked extremely hard together in the run up to the Market and on the day itself. All of the stalls were very busy on the day with lots of visitors buying the items made or baked by the pupils and there was even a visit from Santa and his Elves which the younger classes really enjoyed, thank you to everyone”.

Teacher Yvonne Fahy finished up the gathering by saying that “all of the Fifth Class pupils can be proud of the fantastic effort they put in, well done to all of them. It’s good to know that many patients in St Teresa’s will benefit from the funds raised”.