Irish Football Club Raises €77K in Single Fundraiser Night

When 24 parents, coaches, and players volunteered to eat insects and face their fears on stage, they weren't just having fun. They were building a future for hundreds of young athletes in Cork, Ireland.

St Mary's Football Club hosted "The Jungle" at Silver Springs Hotel, a reality TV-inspired fundraiser where contestants competed through obstacle courses and challenges involving snakes, rats, and gruesome eating tasks. Johnny Buckley emerged as "King of the Jungle" after stepping in just one day before the event when another contestant dropped out.

The real winner was the club itself. The single evening raised an incredible €77,000 toward building a full-sized all-weather pitch for St Mary's AFC, which serves more than 20 teams from academy level through senior and over-35s divisions.

"While we raised a superb amount of money, the craic we all had was fantastic," said committee member Laura Kiniry Power. Each contestant had a €1,500 fundraising target, but they surpassed expectations through individual fundraising, ticket sales, and sponsorships.

One standout was Shirley Rice from Murphy's Rock Bar, who raised €5,000 on her own. Additional support came from T & A Building Supplies and nearly 90 other sponsors who backed the initiative.

The Ripple Effect

The new pitch addresses a critical need. Irish weather has cancelled countless games and training sessions this season, leaving young players without consistent practice time. The all-weather facility will ensure year-round access for the growing number of boys and girls joining the club each year.

Phase One begins this August with pitch lighting installation, followed by the full pitch construction. For a club that's grown rapidly, the investment means long-term stability and room to welcome even more young athletes.

The event proved what's possible when a community rallies together. Three months of planning by volunteers Bernard Power, Ken Daly, Richard Daly, and Laura Kiniry Power transformed a bold idea into reality.

St Mary's AFC is building more than a pitch. They're creating a space where future generations can play, grow, and find community regardless of weather conditions.