Ballyshannon auction against quarry ends tomorrow evening

A reminder that the fundraising auction for the Ballyshannon Action Group, which went live online last week, will culminate in an in-person auction tomorrow, Saturday 9 April, in Dowlings of Ballyshannon.

The Group aptly tagged the event as 'an eclectic mix of one-off experiences, vintage treasures, vouchers, antiques and gift ideas', which seems appropriate. A variety of experiences are up for grabs including All Ireland Hurling Championship tickets, a flight for three people from Kilrush, a round of golf with former Irish soccer International John O'Shea, tours at Gordon Elliott's Cullentra Stud Farm and Carriganog Stud Farm, where you can meet Joseph O'Brien, and much more. 

A number of other local businesses have also donated vouchers and brand new items as auction lots, including Secret Closet, Brennans Hardware, Sirena Fox Hair, Shelly's Barbers, Liffey Barbers, Hair By Ellis and more. 

Signed Kildare football jerseys from both the women's and men's teams also feature as well as cufflinks and a hat worn by the late great Irish Jump Jockey William Robinson, who triumphed in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1963 and later that same year beat Arkle in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. 

There are also a number of nearly-new, vintage and antique auction items available now (with more being added over the coming days) which you can browse and bid on here. 

Tomorrow's in-person event, at which all of the lots will close, will take place from 8pm, led by Auctioneer John Dooley. Viewing of smaller items, paintings etc will be open in the Community Hall in Ballyshannon from 5pm-8pm tomorrow ahead of the event. Items in the hall can be taken away on the night after the auction ends or on Sunday between 12-2pm from the hall. Larger items can be delivered within a 20km radius.

The event is raising funds towards the Group's fight against the imposition of a sand and gravel quarry on a farm at Racefield owned by Kilsaran.

A decision on whether the Group can take a Judicial Review on the decision by An Bord Pleanala to overturn Kildare County Council's refusal of planning permission for the quarry is scheduled for decision later in the year.

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