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Mayor hopefuls go
head-to-head
24.07.08
Muff gets its first
all-women mayoral contest
by Damian Dowds, Inishowen
Independent
THE 2008 Muff Festival mayoral campaign is well
under way with Quigley’s Point Swifts’ Anne
O’Donnell taking on Lorna Weir from the Muff
Sheltered Housing Association. The candidates are
aiming to raise as much money as possible for their
respective causes through holding fun events – more
than €500,000 has been raised for a variety of local
charities over the years. Whichever candidate raises
the most money for her charity will be made mayor of
Muff.
This is the 27th year of the Muff Festival, and
while there have been women mayors in the past this
is the first time that the campaign features two
women.
“It’s hard to get the money in because things are
tight this year,” admitted Lorna Weir, “but people
here have been more than good and supported the
various events.” |
A number of Lorna’s
events have already been staged, but there are more
in the pipeline. Her dance at Foody’s Lodge last
Friday week was a huge success, as was the treasure
hunt and the Muff edition of ‘Stars in their Eyes’.
A sponsored walk from St Mary’s Hall to the Carman’s
Inn takes place tomorrow night (Wednesday), while a
cake and home produce sale |
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will take place in
Greenbank Hall on Saturday 26 July from 2-5pm.
“I planned a Night at the Races in Callaghan’s Bar,
but had to postpone it until 15 August,” Lorna said.
“But whatever horses I sell before the end of the
month will go towards my overall total in the mayor
competition.”
“Things are going not too badly for me,” said Anne
O’Donnell. “It’s been very enjoyable but a wee bit
stressful in trying to gather the crowds. We had a
great night’s craic in the Carman’s at ‘Muff’s Got
Talent’ last Saturday week.”
“Part of me wants it to be over,” Anne concluded.
“But I know I’ll be bored when it’s finished.”
With a poker classic, a sponsored car wash at
Central Motors and fun football for the wains, and
horseshoe throwing already completed, Anne is
rounding off her campaign with a series of events
this week.
St Mary’s Hall is the venue for a Junior Disco on
Friday night from 7pm-9pm, there will be a movie
night in the Squealing Pig, while Anne and her
helpers are selling ‘Golden Goal’ tickets for the
final of the parish league on Sunday 27 July.
The Muff festival gets under way on Friday 1 August
with the mayor’s parade and ends with the final of
the Back-To-Back competition on Monday 4 August.
Other events include a ‘Soap-Box Derby’, ‘It’s a
Knockout’, an animal pet show, the Wild Irish Rose
and a host of other events. |
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