JAN 2005

Amazing Generosity of Inishowen People

Local Red Cross Worker, Gerard Moyne, has praised the generosity of the public in Inishowen, following the St Stephen's Day disaster in South East Asia. Mr Moyne, former Chairman of the Muff Branch of the Irish Red Cross and official at the Red Cross' Donegal headquarters in the border village has been staggered by the numbers coming into Muff's Red Cross building to donate money. Over €25,000 has been raised since they started collection on New Year's Eve.

Mr Moyne said they received one donation of a cheque for €2,000, and another for €1,000, as well as a €500 note. There are numerous stories of extreme generosity coming from the Muff collection hub.

Mr Moyne and the rest of the volunteers manning the station planned to keep the office open for another week, but due to the numbers that have been coming in during the last few days, they will keep the office open for as long as there are still people coming to donate.

Mr Moyne says there has not been anything like this, and the spirit of people is the same as some of the big campaigns of the past decades including the one in the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster.

Collections have been taking place throughout Inishowen and at all chapels in the Derry Diocese. The parish of Newtowncunningham has organised an all night vigil in the Church of All Saints, on Saturday 8th January, beginning at 8.30pm after the usual Saturday night Mass and continuing right up to morning Mass on Sunday at 11am. There will be a group in attendance around the clock with short prayers on the hour, every hour. It would be hoped that as many people as possible would attend. The vigil is opened to all.

Anyone wishing to donate to the disaster fund may call into the office in Muff from Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 5pm. Alternatively, you can phone their pledge hotline on 1850 507070 or donate at the Red Cross Online.

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