The now famous, t-shirts were the creation of three Tullamore businessmen; Tony McCormack, Mattie McCormack and Tim Quinlan. Tim, who is the proprietor of Graphic Index Ltd. in Market Square, Designed the artwork for the t-shirt while Mattie, who dreamed up the Che Guevara parody, and Tony of Print-Plus, Arden Road, Tullamore organ-ised the production and distribution.
The concept was to mark the homecoming of the new Taoiseach in a light-hearted way and at the same time generate some well deserved funds for local charities. Graphic Index Ltd. chose ISARC as their designated charity and Print Plus chose the local branch of St Vincent De Paul.
ISARC is the Irish Sarcoidosis Support Network. The national organisation is based in Tullamore and offers support and a voice to sufferers, their families and carers. 1000's of Irish people suffer from this disease. It can affect any organ of the body, although it most commonly affects the lungs, eyes, lymph nodes and skin. For more information log onto www.isarc.ie
The SVP is a large, national, voluntary-led, decentralised, organi-sation with extensive experience of working with a diverse range of people who experience poverty and exclusion.
Over recent weeks the green and yellow Che-Cowen shirts have been featured in almost every national newspaper, on TV, and on radio. Commentry on them has extended far and wide including a discussion on the Ray Darcy Show with artist, Jim Fitzpatrick, who designed the original Che Guevara print. The t-shirts have already made their way across the Irish sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Don't be surprised to see one on display in some New York bar or other.
The trio responsible are delighted with the success of the venture and particularly the raising of e4,600 for charity.
Many people deserve great appreciation for this success; particularly those who gave freely of their time to sell the t-shirts on the streets of Tullamore, Clara and Birr during the homecoming, John Cusack of the Bridge Centre Tullamore and the many local pubs who stocked the t-shirts, namely: Hugh Lynch's, Digan's Bar, Eugene Kelly's, The Brewery Tap, The Wolftrap and Joe Lee's in Tullamore and Carey's Bar, Cowen's Bar, Dolan's Bar and Baggot's in Clara.
A special thanks to Ellen Mooney, the girls from the Sacred Heart School and the boys from Coláiste Choilm for their help.
Many thanks also to the hundreds of people who dug deep in their pockets and purchased the t-shirts. The spirit of goodwill towards the venture from the public and the press, across all political divides, ensured it's success.