The 19th Newry Business Annual Christmas Charity Dinner took place with over 600 guests in attendance in the Canal Court Hotel & Spa this week, raising an amazing £78,830 for 19 local charities.
The now famous Toy Mountain dominated the lobby of the Canal Court Hotel & Spa and was disassembled by St. Colman’s College volunteers who assisted St Vincent de Paul and The Salvation Army to move the toys, to be distributed by both charities to families in need in time for Christmas.
Five children from the district were recipients of a Dream Holiday voucher. The children were nominated to the Christmas Charity Committee by their respective schools as each has had to face a range of challenges in their young lives.
Chair of the Committee Declan McChesney presented the children with their vouchers saying:
“This event allows us to give something back to these young boys and girls who we first met when we visited the wonderful Santa’s Cottage in Hilltown.”
The recipients were:
Daisy Chapman from Dromintee PS; Calleigh Rodgers from Grange PS, Kilkeel; Clodagh and Niamh O’Donnell from St. Mary’s PS, Dechomet and Ella Gribben from St. Malachy’s PS, Castlewellan.
The event, one of the largest charitable dinner events in Northern Ireland, is the 19th in succession and guests enjoyed entertainment from singer Peter Corry and actresses Rozlyn Sheridan and Teresa McBride, of It’s Wine O’Clock fame.
Paul Convery, President of Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade said:
“Each year this event is a huge undertaking by a small committee of very dedicated members and the support we receive from the big-hearted business community drives us to do more each year for our very deserving charities. The school choirs, musicians from St. Colman’s College, The Abbey Grammar School, St Patrick’s PS and Windsor Hill PS and the pupils from Newry High School and St. Joseph’s Convent PS for coordinating the Toy Mountain. They were absolutely fantastic and really set the tone for the event and we thank the schools, parents and children for their support.”
“It’s truly unique to gather over 600 people for dinner in the name of these very deserving local charities,” Paul added.
The 19 charities to benefit from this year’s event are:
- Action on Elder Abuse Northern Ireland
- Air Ambulance Northern Ireland
- Clanrye Group
- Community Rescue Service
- Children’s Ward Daisy Hill Hospital
- Down Right Brilliant
- Ellen’s Journey
- Life and Time
- MS Society Northern Ireland
- Newry Helping the Homeless
- PIPS Hope and Support
- The Salvation Army
- Southern Area Hospice Services
- SPACE
- St Vincent de Paul
- The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust
- Women’s Aid ArmaghDown
- Bite n Banter For Christmas
- Rathore School