Comedian is game for a laugh

Two charity events drew thousands of people on to the streets of Galway at the weekend.

Two charity events drew thousands of people on to the streets of Galway at the weekend.

The financier who brought down Barings Bank, Nick Leeson, was among the supporters for the inaugural Galway Bay 10-Mile Run and Walk, which aimed to raise funds for Cancer Care West.

Mr Leeson, who now lives in Galway, overcame his own battle with colon cancer. Actress Pauline McLynn and comedian Tommy Tiernan also participated, as did a group of 28 trainee gardaí who raised €6,500 towards the charity.

Cancer Care West, formerly the Leukaemia Trust, aims to build a patient care centre on the grounds of University College Hospital, Galway where the west's first radiotherapy unit is to be based.

READ MORE

The race was won by Michael O'Connell of Galway City Harriers Athletic Club in a time of 54.26, while Kathryn Casserly was the first woman home in a time of 1:12:43.

Galway also played host this weekend to Spraoi. The multi-cultural festival took place at Salthill.

Organiser Ms Sorcha Molloy, a daughter of former Progressive Democrat TD and former minister, Mr Bobby Molloy, first thought of the event when she began seeing "so many different faces on the bus at 8 o'clock in the morning".

Belly-dancing, the Brazilian art of capoeira, samba, salsa and flamenco dancing were among the activities celebrated in Salthill Park throughout yesterday afternoon, with all proceeds going to UNICEF and several other charities. Twelve nations, extending from Algeria to Serbia to Madagascar, and with a combined east African team, took on the challenge of five-a-side soccer.

"Galway is a city of very many nationalities now, and yet there is so little opportunity for different groups to meet each other - apart from young kids who have no problem mixing at school," Ms Molloy explained.

Along with fellow Salthill resident and former Galway lifeboat crew member, Deirdre McGrath, she formed a committee, registered as a charity and sought Galway City Council's permission for the use of Salthill Park as a venue.

Musicians, children's entertainers, and local businesses gave of their time, with Sheridan's Cheeses handing out large slices of smoked gubbeen in return for a donation to the main charity. A Kenyan choir was among the many groups which took to the main stage.

Apart from UNICEF, proceeds were also promised to the Children of Iraq Appeal, La Roue Tourne, which helps street children and polio victims in Burkina Faso, and AIDS Partnership Africa.