Big Halloween event in Offaly raises stunning amount for two charities

A BIG charity event held on a farm in Killyon, Birr raised a stunning amount of money for two charities when it was held during the Halloween period.
The organisers said they were absolutely “blown away” by the huge level of local support for their Pumpkin Patch Weekend on October 25th and 26th which raised €8,146.30. The event was inspired by the Halloween theme and created spiders out of hay bales, a gravestone tribute to the Sanderson Sisters (from the Hocus Pocus movie), and pumpkin-headed scarecrows (see photo below). Spot prizes were also on offer during the day. The idea of Pumpkin Patch events is for people to visit a farm and pick their own pumpkins. There can also be live entertainment, face painting and food vendors, as well as other events.
Aine Finnegan told the Tribune that she and her partner Keith Hanrahan will share the weekend's proceeds between Blood Bikes East and Hugh’s House, the two charities which were so helpful when they were very worried about their daughter's health. “People's generosity and support have truly made a difference!” Aine said.

Their daughter Maisie was born seven weeks early in 2022. “Maisie had a massive bleed in her brain,” Aine recalled, “which is a common condition for babies born prematurely. We were told there was very little hope. Hugh's House gave us a room free of charge in central Dublin while Maisie was being attended to in the Neonatal Unit in the Rotunda Hospital. When you are seated in the neonatal unit in a hospital, very worried about your baby, the world can become a very dark place. The two charities helped us through those dark days. Blood Bikes East, when I was at home in Killyon, came down to our house and collected my breast milk to give to Maisie in the Rotunda Hospital.” Thankfully, Maisie survived this very difficult period of her life. “After five days the bleed in her brain miraculously disappeared,” commented Aine. Maisie is now a fully healthy and fully functioning three year old child.
Aine and Keith extended a “huge thank you” to Keith's parents Ger and Ann for hosting Pumpkin Patch on their farm. “We also want to thank Alan Feighery and his staff for growing our pumpkins, and to Odlum Baldwins Town for growing and delivering pumpkins all the way from the sunny southeast – thank you for helping us bring the patch to life.
“A special word of thanks to DR Tyres, Tim Ryan & Happy Days Preschool for their incredible help, equipment, and spot prizes. Ella Feenane for the face painting, Elizabeth & Irene for photos & co-ordination.
“To the wonderful team at G&A Hanrahan and Alan Franks, your hard work during set-up helped turn an idea into a full family-fun weekend!
“Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors.
“We are deeply grateful to the following businesses and individuals for supplying prizes and support: Camcor Riders, J Grennan & Sons, Garahy Tractors, Bailey Transport, Dooly's Hotel, The Loft Café, John & Mary Kelly (Kelly’s Bar Birr), Peavoys Kinnitty, Seamus Guinan, David & Monica Wrafter, Euronics Roscrea, Ann Murphy Kilcormac, Pearl Delaney, SuperValu Birr, SuperValu Banagher, Donal & Co – Banagher Gun Club, Mulholland’s Pharmacy Birr, Butlers Haven Pharmacy Birr, Horan’s Daybreak Birr, Daybreak Banagher, Tesco Birr. Their kindness helped make the weekend even more special!
“To our community, a massive thank you to each and every one of you. Whether you picked a pumpkin, painted a pumpkin, volunteered, donated, or simply dropped in to show support, you made this event unforgettable. From newborns to 94 years young, your enthusiasm and spirit were truly heart-warming.
“Thank you to Blood Bikes East for attending across both days and for the support shown to our family back in 2022 — it is an honour to give something back.
“To Hugh’s House, we are humbled to be able to donate €4,073.15 to help support families through some of the darkest and most challenging moments of their lives.
“From the bottom of our hearts — thank you.
“The local community came together in the most incredible way, and Millie & Maisie’s Pumpkin Patch would be nothing without them all. Here’s to kindness, community, and many more memories ahead.”

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