Donnacha Ryan launches Nepal school fundraiser

MUNSTER and Irish rugby legend Donnacha Ryan was in UL this week to launch a fundraiser to rebuild a Nepalese school.

The Nenagh man launched the major fundraising drive, which is seeking to collect €20,000 to rebuild Sangachok Community School, which was devastated by earthquakes last December.

The effort is being driven by a group of UL staff and students from the Faculty of Education and Health Sciences who witnessed the devastation first hand. While on a field trip, the group saw the demolished school, which serves 800 children aged 3-18 years, who are now being educated in corrugated iron sheds as a result.

“Our fundraising target is €20,000. It is a lot of money, but we can really make a difference to these lives of these children and the whole community in Sangachok if we make this happen,” said Orla Muldoon, professor of psychology at UL.

The group are organising the Gladrags 4 Earthbags gala ball in the Strand Hotel on May 7 to raise funds, with sponsorship coming from FBD Insurance. To buy a ticket, see www.ul.ie/csi-r.