There are going to be some incredible lots, new events and plenty of craic at the annual Poor Farmers Auction this Tuesday.
The 11th Annual Poor Farmers Association (P.F.A) Charity Auction will be taking place in Teague’s Bar, Ardara, Co. Donegal on Tuesday the 27th December 2016 @ 9pm.
To date the P.F.A has raised an astonishing €233,409.00 for charities.
There is much excitement for the new event this year, the Unisex Tractor push which is starting at 7pm sharp. Four per team entries strictly over 18’s prizes on the night. Raffle for ‘Wheelbarrow bonanza’ sponsored by Teague’s Bar.
This year the proceeds will be split between the:
Charlie Bennett Fund
Pieta House North West and
Contribution to Haiti orphanage.
The P.F.A. committee has purchased Heifer, Scottish Black faced Ewe from Gerard Breslin and Scottish Black faced Ewe Lamb from Patrick O Donnell.
The P.F.A. auction will be as usual, a great night’s craic. Furniture and fixtures are removed and replaced with bales of hay to sit on with saw-dust covering the floors.
The stage is also transformed into a bidding table for the auctioneer taking charge of proceedings over the usual dance floor which also morphs, on the night, into ‘the mart ring’ but seeing is believing so be sure to make your way to Teague’s Bar on the 27th Dec. 2016.
In the past, lots have included sheep, heifers, bags of turf, chickens, gates, bags of nuts and bales of silage to name but a few.
“We’ve lots flying in as we speak. And we’re expecting a wide and varied range of items to be in place by the time the night comes around. If you’ve never been to the event, then you should make the effort this year as it’s truly a unique night that will live long in your memory – it’s crazy – but it’s all for such a great cause!”
The Poor Farmers Association (P.F.A.) would like to thank everyone involved in the last 10 Auction’s which raised a total of €233,409.00 THANK YOU ALL
Anyone looking to donate items or place a reserve bid is asked to contact anyone of the organising committee, or
Cathy Boyd 087 613 3085
John Breslin 087 826 5334
Gerard McHugh 087 648 8628
Where did the Poor Farmers Association come from? Here’s the funny story:
“He’ll find it for you, but when you do find it make sure you throw a few coins into the box.” Anyone in who has visited Teagues Bar in Ardara and have had the pleasure of being served by the lovely Eileen Teague will had heard her say this now famous phrase ( well, Famous in Teagues Bar)
The Poor Farmers Association and subsequent Poor Farmers Auction was established on a cold wet night in the winter of 2005, where a couple of locals were sat at the bar counter in Teagues Ardara putting the world to right.
The St Anthony box on the counter was in tatters and needed a new cover, Eileen was giving out that it needed to be fixed up, “How could you expect anyone to throw a few coins into the box when you couldn’t see St Anthony on it,” she said.
Lord knows Poor St Anthony was owed a small fortune, what with all the things he had located in Teagues…Car keys, mobile phones….to name but a few.
The Bar man Paul Molloy decided to cover the St Anthony box with an Ardara GAA flotto envelope but instead of writing St Anthony’s name on it, he wrote “The Poor Farmers Fund” , to the amusement of his customers.
Around a hundred euro was raised in the St Anthony Box and it was decided the money would go to the Donegal hospice. The idea was given legs and grew and grew it was discussed at length to hold a livestock Auction for the Poor Farmers in the Bar, with all the proceeds going to the Donegal Hospice. So, the Poor Farmers Association was formed, the Livestock Auction was to be held that Christmas in Teagues,
Eleven years later, the committee with all the original members are continuing to go from strength to strength, raising huge amounts of money for local charities.
James Mc Hugh ( “The Black Doctor” as he known locally in Ardara) and a founding member of the Poor farmers Association tells us “ This Auction is a unique experience for those people from both the farming community and those looking for an unusual night out over Christmas while also raising money for worthy charities.”
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