Pictures: €9k raised for Shine Centre for Autism with 'go green' event

OVER €9,000 was raised at a recent sold-out event in aid of The Shine Centre for Autism in Carrigaline, with the fundraiser hailed as "staggering in its success and impact".

The 'Go Green & Shine' event took place in St Columba's Hall in Douglas and was organised by Douglas locals, Aidan and Diane Dalton. 

"Because it’s coming up to Patrick’s Day, I thought I’d run a fundraiser that people would wear green," Aidan told The Echo. 

"It’s my wife, Diane Dalton, my wife and myself were the main people [organisers] and I had a lot of other people helping on the night."

Mr Dalton said the pair were inspired to hold the fundraiser after witnessing the impact The Shine Centre for Autism had on a friend's child. 

The event included entertainment from traditional Irish music band, The Molly Maguires, followed by a performance from the Kiely-Walsh Academy of Irish Dance, as well as a live DJ, a raffle and a prize for the best dressed on the night. 

Mr Dalton expressed his thanks to all those who attended, to sponsors who donated prizes and to the staff at St Columba's Hall for supporting the event. A total of €9,250 was raised from ticket sales, donations and raffle tickets. 

Chair of The Shine Centre for Autism, Eoin Motherway, lauded Aidan and Diane for helping to raise much-needed funds for the organisation. 

"At Shine we get many asks but for long term stability of our organisation we must ring-fence our state funding for services. 

"So projects and asks can only come from community and/or corporate partnership. 

"What Aidan and Diane have achieved here is staggering in its success and impact; he truly is an exceptional person and the regard in which he’s held within his community was self-evident on last Friday evening [March 8]," he said. 

"To see young and old in attendance and dressed in green, it was very reassuring to see that there are still many people willing to go the extra mile and pay it forward for others."

The Shine Centre for Autism provides essential services to children with autism and their families. For more information see shineireland.com