Farmers asked to donate calves for Kerry charity auction
A charity calf auction is set to take place later this month at Listowel Livestock Mart with all proceeds going to the Kerry Hospice Foundation.
Farmers are being asked to donate a calf for the event which will take place on Wednesday, March 25.
Mairead Hanlon, one of the organisers, told Agriland this charity auction is part of a wider fundraising initiative by Moyvane parish that began last year.
The group, which has already held a concert and other events, is aiming to raise €100,000 for the Kerry Hospice Foundation's Palliative Care Unit in Tralee.
"They do phenomenal work inside in palliative care. People that have had experiences in palliative care speak so highly of the care and the atmosphere there.
"There isn't a family in the country that hasn't been touched by cancer at this stage, and unfortunately, the statistics are even getting higher for the incidence of cancer," she said.
Charity auction
Kerry Hospice Foundation is currently building a five-bedroom extension to its palliative care unit which is located on the grounds of University Hospital Kerry (UHK).
The development costing over €6 million also includes refurbishment works in the existing in-patient and daycare facility that opened in 2017.
Ahead of the upcoming calf auction, Mairead said the response from farmers she has contacted has been "very positive".
"I haven't got any refusal so far. We'd be appealing to farmers to donate a calf, because this won't be the success that we want it to be unless we have calves," she said.
Jenny Tarrant from Kerry Hospice Foundation said the people of Kerry have raised the funds for the existing palliative care facilities in Tralee.
"The farming community are fantastic, they're always very helpful to us.
"We did have another calf sale here a couple of years ago, and it was fantastic. People are just so generous.
"The Irish people are very generous people, and the people of Kerry are just outstanding," she said.
PJ Mulvihill, manager of Listowel Mart, said that over the past two years the mart has seen many farmers donate animals for a chosen charity.
"Cancer is something that touches on everyone's door and has affected so many different people.
"It's probably one of the most common charities that we see people donating to," he said.
Mart
Mulvihill said the mart will not be charging any commission to the buyers or sellers at the charity auction.
"Whatever the calf makes in the ring, all that money goes directly to palliative care," he said.
With calf prices currently at an all-time high, the mart manager said this will help with the fundraiser.
The charity auction will be held after the normal Wednesday calf sale at the mart.
Farmers who want to make a once-off donation of a calf for the event can contact Mairead Hanlon on (087) 600 4379 or Listowel Mart on (068) 21227.
