Wexford vintage club raise €6,500 with unique travelling cottage

Member Eilish Kavanagh, said that they generated these funds after hosting a 'Heritage Vintage' weekend in Clonhamon village. They have held this event on the street for the last few years where they would usually sell tea and coffee, as well as bacon and cabbage boiled in old famine pots.

However, this year they held the weekend in a local field due to the large number of returning crowds.

"The crowds have been so big, we decided to take it to the field. We involved vintage cars, vintage tractors, anything vintage really. We also had a stage where Gavin Gribben and Dancing with Declan performed. We also had a storytelling event as we try to cater to everybody," she said.

What is unique to this event is that they host it in a movable old bog cottage on loan from a man called Johnny Howard in Kildare. This partnership began after Ms Kavanagh's son became friendly with Mr Howard four years ago and proposed the idea over a drink in a pub.

Not only has the cottage travelled annually to Wexford, but it also has a yearly stint in London, aided by the fact that it was built on a trailer.

"For the last two years we have brought the cottage to Trafalgar Square in London for St Patrick's Day weekend. The cottage goes on the Ferry and we take a flight - expenses that we pay by ourselves," she added.

The group decided to give the money to the day centre as a way to give back to the community for always supporting them.

"The staff in the day centre were amazed. They rely so much on sponsorship as they do not get any funding. It was also a great night with homemade cakes and we were given a tour of the centre. As well as that, we also donated €500 to the Hope Centre in Enniscorthy," she said.

Next on the agenda for the club is their big Christmas plans; on December 7 they are hosting a Christmas market with a visit from Santa in aid of the Heart Unit in Crumlin Hospital. On December 14, they will have their 'Light Up Christmas' road run in aid of the Wexford branch of the Irish Kidney Association.