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Fundraiser revives tradition
By Tom Fitzpatrick
 An
annual trip to Lourdes for 10 VIPs is a step closer thanks to a charity
night organised by Donegal man John McGinley.
Mr McGinley organises a St. Bridget’s night celebration —
where guests learn to make the St. Bridget cross — every year in
the capital to raise funds for the charity Across, who bring sick patients
to Lourdes.
Last Saturday the annual fundraiser took place at the Pope John Centre
in Heston, west London and around 200 guests helped to raise nearly £2,000
to contribute to the cost of the trip in August.
Mr McGinley said: “The night went really well. We had a good crowd
and all sorts of fun, food and frolics.
“Our trip to Lourdes is from August 7-17 but the money helps to
maintain our Jumbulance (a couch/ambulance), which we use to drive from
London to Lourdes in a 20-hour trip.”
Making the St. Bridget’s crosses is a childhood tradition for John
McGinley.
He said: “Nearly every house in Donegal made the crosses when I
was growing up.
“It’s a strong Irish emblem, on a par with the harp and the
shamrock although it comes very low down on the list when it comes to
remembrance and celebration.”
“On the eve of St. Bridget’s feast-day (February 1) my father
would go out and cut the rushes in Donegal and the lights would be switched
off in the house.
“He would knock on the door and call out in Irish and we’d
have to respond with a prayer in Irish and then the lights would come
on and we’d make the crosses and have a bit of tea and bairn brack.”
Mr McGinley and his wife Christine revived the tradition in London four
years ago as part of their work for charity.
He said: “We have Irish stew with homemade soda bread as a supper
and then after making the crosses there was Irish dancing and a band,
it’s a real proper Irish night.”
To donate to the Lourdes trip visit www.across-uk.org
or call John McGinley on 079 7312 7327.
More pictures of this event in next week’s Irish Post. |
