Five Mayo winners announced in National Lottery Good Causes Awards

THE Mulranny Day Care Centre and Foxford Brass and Reed Band are among five Mayo organisations named as winners in the first ever National Lottery Good Causes Awards.

The awards honour the inspiring work of thousands of projects, clubs and individuals all over Ireland with the help of Good Causes funding.

Nearly 30 cent of every euro spent on National Lottery games goes back to Good Causes, which has a big impact on communities across the country.

Announcing the Mayo winners. National Lottery CEO, Dermot Griffin, said: “We were bowled over by the calibre of entries and the impact that these organisations are having in their local communities. We know that these groups are doing extraordinary things and the Good Causes awards recognize and celebrate their achievements.”

The Mayo winners are:

• Sport: Crossmolina Deelrovers GAA

The club is 130 years old and is a key part of the community with a rich GAA heritage. Good Causes funding helped to upgrade facilities including the construction of a 60 x 40 m flood-lit all weather astro-turf pitch

• Health & Well Being: Western Alzheimer’s

Western Alzheimer’s is a charity that provides a range of services to people impacted by dementia living in Counties Mayo, Galway and Roscommon. National Lottery Funding was invested in its Marian House Respite Centre in Ballindine and its Marian House Nursing Home in Athenry.

• Heritage: Foxford Brass & Reed Band

The Foxford Brass and Reed Band dates back to 1896, and is unique in that it reaches across generations and beyond economic and educational barriers to bring people together. Good Causes funding allowed it purchase large instruments including tuba and marching brass drum.

• Arts & Culture: Achill Henrich Boll Association

The association manages the Heinrich Böll Cottage in Dugort, Achill, a secluded space where writers and artists can find inspiration and do their work. Good Causes funding allowed it increase support to artists through provision of bursaries to meet travel and livings costs.

• Community: Mulranny Day Care Centre

Mulranny Day Care Centre runs the Saint Brendan's Village project, a "not-for-profit" community initiative supporting older and disabled people to remain in the area. Good Causes funding has allowed it provide sheltered housing units to those unable to live at home, and to provide a higher level of care and support to those with greater needs due to the ravages of older age or chronic disability.

These winners will represent Mayo in the west regional finals, competing for a place in the National Finals in Dublin on November 3.

Broadcaster and entrepreneur Bobby Kerr, Chair of the judging panel, stated: “The competition is fierce in the National Lottery Good Causes Awards. The standard of entries is really impressive. I congratulate all of the county winners and look forward to seeing Mayo competing in the regional finals next month.”

Each category winner will received €10,000 and the overall Good Cause of the Year will receive an additional €25,000. The full list of County Winners can be found at www.lottery.ie/goodcausesawards.

Nearly 30 cent in every €1 spent on National Lottery games – or over €619,000 per day – goes back to Good Causes all over the country in the areas of Sports, Arts, Culture, Heritage, Community, Health, Youth and the Irish Language. Last year alone more than €226 million was raised by players of National Lottery games for such Good Causes