The annual Poor Farmers Association (PFA) auction marked its twentieth anniversary event at Teague's bar, Ardara, Co. Donegal, by raising a whopping €48,300 on the night for local charities.

Money continued to come in from the barbecue held after the auction on December 29 last, as well as from donations.

The funds raised from this 20th edition of the auction will be distributed between the Community First Responders (CFR), Down Strands Counselling Service, The Kevin Bell Repatriation Fund, cancer research, and other local charities.

Over the past 20 years, the association has raised in excess of €625,000 for local charities.

The 166 lots featured everything from sheep to silage bales and bidding was strong, according to John Breslin of the organising committee.

Breslin outlined some of the highlights from the auction, which included:

Christmas hampers, which sold for €280;
A Dorset ewe with triplets, which went under the hammer for €850 to a syndicate of women on a night out;
A Hampshire ewe lamb, which commanded a price of €880;
25 bags of turf, which went for €370;
A signed Donegal jersey, which sold for €530, on its way to New York;
A homemade brown bread hamper, which sold for €250;
Luke Combs tickets, which achieved a price of €410 online from Australia;
An Ireland player's rugby jersey which sold for €850.

The PFA is a group of local volunteers who run the event in their own time.

John said: "The event has incurred zero costs for the last 20 years, with every single cent raised going directly to the charities.

"The committee is made up of the original members since 2006 as well as younger members from Teague's bar, Ardara.

"The PFA auction was as usual, a great night’s craic. The stage was transformed into a bidding table for the auctioneer taking charge of proceedings over the dance floor, which also morphs on the night into 'the mart ring' with livestock auctioned in the bar."

The association was founded after a few locals who were in Teague's bar on a winter's night came up with the idea.

"The late Eileen Teague was giving out that the St. Anthony box was in tatters," John recalled.

"The barman at the time, Paul Molloy, decided to cover the St Anthony box with an Ardara GAA lotto envelope, but instead of writing St Anthony’s name on it, he wrote 'The poor farmers' fund', to the amusement of customers."

The St Anthony box contained around €100, and it was decided the money should go to the Donegal hospice.

''The idea was given legs and grew and grew. It was discussed at length to hold a livestock auction, with all proceeds going to Donegal hospice," John said.

"So the Poor Famers Association was formed, with the livestock auction held that Christmas in Teague's bar.

''Twenty years later, the committee with all the original members running the event in their own time, is going from strength to strength, raising thousands for charity.

"All these organisations and charities rely heavily on public donations to provide vital services to the local communities, and beyond," John added.

The association expressed thanks to everyone involved in the last 20 auctions, which raised in excess of €625,000 for local charities.

The association expressed its thanks to everyone involved in the auctions over the past 20 years.