Virginia rare antiques fundraiser for 'butterfly skin' charity
The Virginia Show Centre will be filled with rare antique collectibles this Sunday (April 19) to raise money for Debra Ireland, the national charity for people with epidermolysis bullosa or 'butterfly skin'.
The Indoor Heritage Collectibles and Antique Show is taking place this Sunday, April 19, in the Virginia Show Centre in aid of Debra Ireland, the national charity for people with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) or ‘butterfly skin’.
EB is an incurable genetic condition that occurs in every 1 in 18,000 people. People with EB, of which there are around 300 people with the condition in Ireland, are missing the essential proteins that bind our skin together, causing their skin to break, tear and blister easily.
On the day, attendees can feast their eyes on a host of rare antique collectibles; a mixture of “everything and anything”, says self-proclaimed antiques hoarder John Clancy, who helped organised the event on behalf of his nine year old daughter Kathleena who has dominant dystrophic EB.
“She’s an unbelievable girl,” says John of his daughter.
“She never gives in, I suppose she’s never known anything else.”
“Whatever she wants to do, we let her give it a try because she can find her own limitations.”
John organised the event with the late John Keenan from Castleblayney, former Fine Gael councillor and President of the Vintage Engine and Tractor Association (I.V.E.T.A), who passed away on St Patrick’s Day. John’s family will be attending the event in his place.
For the past forty years, John Clancy has been collecting antiques, a practice he describes as an “addiction”.
“Even marriage couldn’t fix it although she tried her best,” jokes John of his wife Tina.
John has been displaying his wares at vintage rallies and the National Ploughing Championships for years.
Recently, he had noticed a drop-off in the number of people participating as some prized possessions were unintentionally being lost.
“There’s a serious interest in small stuff,” he remarks, noting the familiarity people attach to items used in times gone by.
“People could relate to it,” describes John.
The idea for the indoor event arose out of this interest, with a desire to freely display antiques without any weather-related concerns.
Open to the public from 11.30am until 4.30pm, admission is €10 for adults and free for children, and there will be a number of information stalls and curators on site to answer any potential questions.
Highlights will include a Triang toy display, the Stick Men, the Vintage Radio Roadshow, Crafts of Ireland and a performance by Killinkere Comhaltas.
Attendees can explore a Virginia 400 photographic display, offering a rare insight into Irish life in the early 1900s-60s.
In addition to heritage and antique collectibles, there will be demonstrations of grinding grains by quern stones, basket masking and butter churning.
For further information, contact John (087 632 9362), and to support Debra’s work, visit debra.ie/give.