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Bloomin' problem for
Daffodil Day
05.03.08
Cold weather and an
earlier date may mean fresh flowers could be a
premium
by Simon McGeady, Inishowen
Independent
DAFFODIL Day takes place this Friday, and all over
Inishowen volunteers will be stationed outside the
banks and supermarkets of the peninsula from 9am to
raise money for the Irish Cancer Society.
However the organisers of Daffodil Day in Carndonagh
and Buncrana are fretting this week because they
fear there will be a shortage of fresh daffodils to
sell because of a combination of the recent cold
snap and the fact that Daffodil Day in 2008 falls a
full two weeks earlier than it did last year. |
In fact Grainne Gillen,
one of the organisers of Daffodil Day in Carndonagh,
is so worried about having fresh flowers to sell
that she is taking a most unusual step.
“Normally we pick daffodils the day before, but this
year we are going to pick daffodils that haven’t
bloomed yet on Wednesday and stick them in water in
the hope |
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that they flower in
time for Friday,” said Mrs Gillen
“Last year we made loads of money off the fresh
flowers, we sell the silk ones as well and various
pins and badges, but people lover to buy bunches of
fresh flowers,” she added.
Last year in Buncrana alone over €6000 was raised on
Daffodil Day. Brendan Duffy, one of the organisers
of Daffodil Day in the town, said that because of
the recent cold snap daffodils were in shorter
supply than normal this year.
“George Buchanan is going to supply us with an
amount of flowers, but I am calling on anyone with
fresh daffodils to get in touch because, after the
cold weather, they will be needed and would be
appreciated. You can call me on my mobile 086
8779508,” said Mr Duffy who added that anyone
willing to volunteer their time to sell daffodils in
Buncrana this Friday should get in touch with him
also.
This is the 21st year of Daffodil Day in Ireland
and, following a record year in Carndonagh in 2007,
Mrs Gillen is praying there will be enough flowers
to meet demand on Friday.
“If anyone can supply us with flowers they can
contact me on 086 8580283,” she added.
Daffodil Day is run in aid of the Irish Cancer
Society. The money raised in Inishowen will go to
providing cancer care in the Donegal. Nationwide,
Daffodil Day 2007 raised €3.8 million and this year
the target is €4.5 million. |
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