Donations to Irish Red Cross Asia appeal at €13.5million after €1.5 million contribution from Coolmore Stud

This is the largest amount ever raised by the Irish Red Cross for any appeal and was significantly augmented by a single donation of more than Euro 1.5 million yesterday to the Irish Red Cross from John Magnier and Coolmore Stud.

And this donation from Coolmore Stud is just part of an overall USD 3.5 million raised for the Asia Appeal to be split between the Irish Red Cross, American Red Cross and Australian Red Cross. This follows a novel fundraising event organised by Coolmore Stud, involving an auction of nomination fees (stud fees) for all of their stallions based in these three countries.

Famed horses, Sadler's Wells and Rock of Gibraltar were included in the auction, which saw mare-owners bidding for the stud fees at the outset, instead of paying a set fee after a foal is born. The auction raised USD 2.2 million and a friend of Coolmore Stud donated more than a million dollars, thus raising the amount to USD 3.5 million.

The donation of over a million and a half Euro yesterday, follows the earlier donation this week of more than a million arising from the New Year's Eve Garda-secured collection of donations in pubs and hotels, organised by retired Garda Jim McCabe.

And yesterday a cheque of Euro 6,000, together with cash collected en-route was presented to the Irish Red Cross by Cailín Kearney of the Stillorgan Park Hotel and her crew of bed pushers. Staff from eleven of Dublin's top hotels, including the Radisson St Helen's, Bewley's Ballsbridge, Jury's, Tara Tower, the Berkeley Court, the Mount Herbert, the Davenport, the Mont Clare, the Alexander, and the St Stephen's Green Hotel, took turns pushing a bed from one hotel to the other finishing at the Irish Red Cross Head Office in Merrion Square.

This weekend Cork people are urged to head along to the Dean Room in the Imperial Hotel Cork, where they can sign-up for the 3km Asia Fun Run taking place in Cork City Centre on Wednesday next. Registration (Euro 10) is taking place on Saturday from 12 to 8pm and on Sunday from 12 to 6pm.

Tickets are also on sale now in Cork for a live concert at the Savoy on Friday 21 January, involving a host of local bands performing at the gig, with RTÉ's John Creedon doing MC for the night for free. The Savoy are providing their premises and their staff free-of-charge, while organiser, Margaret O'Brien has also secured the support of accountancy firm Deloitte.

Earlier this week, Disc Plant Hire in Cork donated a full day's takings to the Red Cross Asia Appeal, as did Cork restaurant, Grace's Southern Fried Chicken, at the outset.

In Sligo, earlier this week, the Students Union in the local IT kidnapped the College President and organised other novel fundraisers - in aid of the Irish Red Cross Asia Appeal. Earlier, they had organised a link from their web page to the web page of the Irish Red Cross to support donations. www.redcross.ie/donate

And in just over a fortnight's time the Sligo Champion, co-ordinated by Jim Gray, is holding a concert (3 February) at the Great Southern Hotel in Sligo Town, with local lass, Pauline McLynn (Fr Ted's housekeeper Mrs Doyle) saying; go on, go on, go on, as the MC for the night!

In Athlone on 29 January next, a stylish benefit dinner for 350 - 400 people is being organised by local Thai Restaurant owner, Adam Lyons at the Athlone Radisson hotel, with tickets available now.

While in Wexford, a swim in the sea near Gorey tested the commitment of all involved to the Red Cross as it was held on one of the coldest days so far this year. A fancy dress football match and other events was also organised, for landlubbers.

Motorists in Swords, north County Dublin, meanwhile, got an opportunity to clean-up their act and support the Red Cross Asia Appeal! Anthony Stein very generously donated a day's takings from his car valeting business. While further into the city centre, the Mezz, Temple Bar, hosted a charity gig organised by Gerry Scullion.

Among the most novel individual fundraisers will be the sponsored run taking place this weekend in Dublin, when David Rogers picks-up his ten-foot ladder and runs with it from OConnell Street to Balbriggan, tomorrow.

Also tomorrow in Dublin, Pat O'Leary has organised a performance by the Garda Choir in St Stephen's Green, while John McCarthy will take walkers from Sandymount to the Poolbeg Lighthouse. Shoppers at Boots, in the Square SC, Tallaght can get a make-over and support the Irish Red Cross Asia Appeal, as Dolores Byrne has pledged all proceeds to the appeal.

On Sunday, everyone will have the chance of "a close shave" with the Luas as Brenda Leahy of Helen's, Dundrum, has organised 30 hairdressers to do a head shave along the local Luas line.

And on Sunday night, a Comedy night, organised by Buzz O'Neill will take place in Vicar Street.

In Kildare on Sunday, Michelle Murphy has organised a fundraiser involving local hunters and farmers at a novel chase.

Last night the Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross, Carmel Dunne returned home after a week-long tour of inspection of the damage done by the tsunami in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. She said she was appalled at the extent of the damage, but has been heartened by the commitment of local people to rebuild their communities.

"Our aim now in the Irish Red Cross is to get as much money as quickly as possible into the hands of those who can use it wisely. I am in discussion with our colleagues in the international Red Cross and Red Crescent movement to see what precisely the needs are and where we can use the money donated by the Irish people to maximum impact.

"What I have seen this week is that clearly the priorities right now are clean water, food, medicines and shelter, but I hope that the Irish Red Cross can help sustain these communities as they rebuild themselves again in the longer-term."

Ends.