IceAid volunteer Dominic Halpin
at work in Liberia

GALA RAISES €11,000

News Release November 1st 2008
Wexford gets first screening of new James Bond 'Quantum of Solace' film

007 film gala raises EUR11,000 to help children orphaned by war. The Gala Screening of Quantum of Solace, the latest James Bond film, took place at the new Omniplex Cinema in Wexford on Thursday last, October 30th. Among those attending this glittering red carpet event were IceAid patrons Eoin and Jackie Colfer, the head of Amnesty International Irish Section, Colm O'Gorman and Amnesty's Programmes Director Noeleen Hartigan as well as IceAid's founder Padraig Grant.

A full house at Screen 1 and energetic bidding at the charity auction held later in the evening resulted in EUR11,000 being raised for IceAid's ongoing building projects at the Agnes & Alfred Memorial Orphanage in Liberia.

Speaking at the gala Rosemary Hayes, IceAid's Ireland Co-Ordinator, said: "In a time when we are being told to cut back, keep an eye on our spending and when the word recession is becoming the word of 2008 it is good to see so many people willing to put their hands in their pockets to assist those less well off.
The donations made by those in attendance will assist IceAid in providing accommodation, health care and education facilities - basic rights - to the most vulnerable children imaginable".

She went on to advise that the organisers were constantly amazed at the kindness and generosity of the people they came across in the build up to the event.

The auction alone raised over EUR4,000 with all items donated by predominantly local sponsors. A Casino was also in operation at the post film party at White's Hotel. Partygoers had the chance, thanks to Michael Laffan from Quay Casino, to try their hand at a number of games, including Roulette and Blackjack. Catriona Whelan from Beat FM accumulated the most chips on the night and won a Sony digital camera for her efforts.

Other winners on the night were Rachel Murphy (best dressed lady) and the mysterious "Le Chiffre" (best dressed man). Both were awarded with a gift bag to the value of EUR100 from Uber Cosmetics with a voucher from Oxygen Hairdressers for Rachel and "Le Chiffre" received a laptop bag from Corcoran's menswear.

End