Limerick Solicitors Bar Association donate €20,000 to local charities from dance competition

LAST NOVEMBER, local members of the legal profession showed they were as quick on their feet as they are with their tongues when they held a charity dance competition.

Entitled Strictly Legal Eagles, it was a collaboration between Limerick solicitors, barristers, court service staff and the school of law in UL. It was the brainchild of Derek Walsh, secretary of the Limerick Solicitors Bar Association.

He said the vision behind the event was to bring together the legal community in a manner which “had never been done before to raise funds and awareness for two local and very deserving charities – Children’s Grief Centre and Mid-Western Cancer Foundation”.

“It was a daunting and ambitious challenge and as I look back it now, you tend to forget the stresses involved in organising such a large scale event. However, there was extraordinary level of commitment and enthusiasm by all involved and thankfully the hard work was worth it with over 800 tickets sold,” said Derek, who thanked everyone who played a part – small or large – in its huge success.

Solicitors, Ger O’Neill and Elizabeth Walsh beat off competition from nine other acts to take home the top prize.

“Everyone had great craic. The event has also helped foster new friendships and hobbies and I know that many of the dancers are still going to dance lessons,” said Derek, who visited both the Mid-Western Cancer Foundation and the Children’s Grief Centre to present a cheque for €10,000 to each.

Derek is firmly of the view that as members of the legal profession, they are in a unique position of influence in the community.

“It is important that we take advantage of that position to engage with the community and to support local causes. Throughout 2018, the Limerick Solicitors Bar Association has worked tirelessly to generate support and promote worthwhile charities organisations,” said Derek.

Aside from Strictly Legal Eagles, 2018 was a busy year for the Limerick Solicitors Bar Association who raised and donated €42,000 for local and national charities in 2018. The Children’s Grief Centre, St Gabriel’s School & Centre, Novas,Catherine McAuley Special School, Corbett Suicide Watch, St Vincent de Paul and the St Joseph’s Foundation were each presented with cheques for €3,000.

The association also donated €1,000 to Focus Ireland in support of Law Society president Michael Quinlan’s charity sleep-out in October 2018.

“Many of the nominated charities are close to our hearts and it is so important that the incredible work accomplished by the organisations be promoted and recognised.

I am delighted to confirm that the Limerick Solicitors Bar Association will continue to engage with the community and support local charities into 2019 and hopefully we will be able to surpass the €42,000 from 2018!” said Derek.