Seeing is believing as the 19th Annual Poor Farmers Association Auction returns to Teague’s Bar, Ardara, tonight.
Every Christmas for the past 19 years, the local farming community has come together to hold one of Ireland’s most bizarre auctions for local charities.
Everything from sheep to silage and eggs to ‘butchered deer’ are among the big-ticket lots! The more than 60 lots will also include three acres of stitching (whatever that is), bags of ‘good quality’ turf and, of course, a few ‘Shaun the Sheep’ duvets have been thrown in.
To date, the P.F.A has raised an astonishing €523,149. Money raised this year will be distributed between the Resource Centre Ardara (funding for a sensory room), Cancer Care West and Palliative Care Nurses.
This Friday’s fundraiser will be kicking off 9pm sharp, people are advised to come in early to avoid disappointment. It will be standing room only but you might be lucky enough to grab a seat. Online bidding will also be possible (see details below).
A great night’s craic is guaranteed.
The stage is 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’ with livestock auctioned in the bar.
The PFA has embraced the online bidding platform, so if you can’t make it in person to Teagues, don’t worry… you can place your bids online on MartEye and enjoy the craic from your home.
Online bids can be made by following the link: https://poorfarmerscharity.marteye.ie/
Organisers said: “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, at Teague’s Bar Ardara ..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!”
For updates follow on Facebook: @ Teagues Bar Ardara and @ The PFA
Action from last year’s Poor Farmers Auction.
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 who has visited Teague’s Bar in Ardara and had the pleasure of being served by the lovely Eileen Teague will have heard her say this now-famous phrase ( well, Famous in Teague’s 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 Teague’s…Car keys, mobile phones….to name but a few.
The barman Paul Molloy decided to cover the St Anthony box with an Ardara GAA lotto 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.
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.
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