A Night to Remember

What is St Patricks Day about? Well, if you live in Ireland it’s a celebration of St Patrick chasing the snakes out of Ireland. A time for dancing, singing and most importantly, drinking. It does not go unsaid that the Irish are inclined to a Guinness or two. For one special Irish family, St Patricks Day had a slightly different meaning this year.

On the 19th March, a St Patricks Day celebration was hosted in Retford Town Hall Ballroom to raise money for Bassetlaw Hospice and Macmillan Nurses. Everyone attending purchased a ticket, the money of which would go towards the charities. There was also a raffle, cake sales and hand painted shamrock bowls available for purchase. Donations where also made on the night and the total came to a little over £2000.

The night consisted of a symphony of music supplied by the Celtic Irish band, The Hooleys, a Hooley being a loud, boisterous party full of Irish dancing and singing. It was safe to say by the end of the night the bar had also been cleaned fresh out of Guinness.

But this St Patricks day party was also hosted in the name of Jim Gallagher, a local man who had passed away in July of last year after his battle with cancer. When Jim needed help, it was given to him by his family and Bassetlaw Hospice. Bassetlaw Hospice works to help people achieve the best quality of life when they have conditions like cancer.

Charity doesn’t always have to be about trudging around the streets and tapping a tin can. It can come to you in many ways, in this instant, the life of one man will now have changed the life of many, thanks to the money 200 people managed to raise.

By Caitlin

Boston High School

www.bostonhighschool.co.uk