Trucks loaded with aid head for flood-hit Donegal

Sean McMahon

Two generous Cavan communities have responded with amazing generosity to the needs of the scores of people affected by the recent flooding in Innishowen.
Big hearted people in Cross/Mullagh and Ballyjamesduff loaded up two large lorries with furniture, household items and toiletries and numerous other esentials and they set off in convoy last Saturday morning for the hills of Donegal.
Allison Notley brought the idea to the attention of Cllr Shane P O’Reilly. Like most others they had watched from afar as families lost everything.
“Allison said to me we need to do something in our parish,” explained Cllr O’Reilly, “and then we got an announcement together for the local churches and we also created a facebook post and it mushroomed from there.” 
All the Cross/Mullagh furniture and household items were collected in the magnificent community complex at the Cuchullains GAA Grounds. Scores of people worked hard last Friday to make the initiative become a reality, in packing the lorry, provided by Harry Crosbie of Crosbie Transport, and driven north by Thomas Notley and accompanied by Michael Soden the following morning. 
Allison said it was phenomenal what people had gathered in such a short time, including bedding, furniture, toiletries, curtains, kitchen utensils and wardrobes, and it was a tribute to the people in Cross/Mullagh.
“Thanks to you all on behalf of all of us – it has been fantastic to be able to do it and everybody has a smile on their faces,” enthused Allison on Friday afternoon. “Hopefully the lives of the people in Donegal will be made a little easier when this lorry load of various items arrives.”
Cllr O’Reilly thanked JP Brady Hardware in Virginia, JT Hardware in Mullagh, Ramor Renewables, The Hidden Treasure Charity Shop, Vincent de Paul Charity Shop, Paddy Smith Grocery Shop in Mullagh and Sean Brunton from Brunton’s Carpets. Cllr O’Reilly also thanked Mullagh Community Sports Centre for putting the facilities at their disposal. Cllr O’Reilly, John Taite and others also travelled to Donegal on Saturday.
Meanwhile the gesture made by the Mullagh/Cross inspired like-minded people over in Ballyjamesduff.
Shirley Byers from the local community council said they had seen the initiative on Facebook and made contact to see if they could replicate the effort in the Ballyjamesduff area. They were readily given the thumbs up.
On Friday another lorry was also being loaded with suitable items for people setting up home. Bedding, couches, diverse household items and toiletries were all packed into the lorry at the St Teresa’s old school building on Ballyjamesduff's Oldcastle Road.
Shirley said they were, “overwhelmed by the response from the people in Ballyjamesduff and surrounding areas.”
The charitable project culminated in a convoy of trucks going from County Cavan to Donegal on last Saturday morning, together with a number of vans. Amongst those who journeyed with the lorry -  sponsored by Padraig Donohoe from A.J. Bedding - included Sean Boylan, Mattie Boylan and project co-ordinator Kevin Fox. A total of 19 mattresses were donated by Kelletts Bedding in Oldcastle.