Musicians and Volunteers Helped Gather Funds For Four Local Charities
- Sunflower Cottage – a Hub For Charitable Fundraising
At a cheque presentation at Sunflower Cottage in Annacloy, four local charities received substantial cheques from festival organisers who ran several fund-raising events from August to October last year at Sunflower Cottage.
Singer Conal Montgomery from rock band Black Dog Moon kicked off events with the Cornerstone Festival which drew a large crowd in sunny weather.
Conal said: “This is a really exciting venture. We have collectively over a number of events raised almost £20,000 for local charities and this is just fantastic!
“All the musicians provided their time free to support the charities and we’d just like to give them all a special thank you.
“We have excellent sponsors, and good support on the days of the events and I’d just like to thank everyone whether they be sponsors, band members, those who ran the hot drinks trailer and food bar providing barbecued shredded pork burgers and those who helped out in the sunflower fields.
“And of course all those who came along and made a small donation to the charities. There were so many great volunteers.
‘We have a small core team and a wider team who put this all together. We are delighted to be able to use this brilliant venue at Annacloy on his lovely site at the Sunflower Cottage, which is a building that goes back a couple of hundred years at least.
“It was a series of music and community events stretched out from August to October 2024. It started with the Cornerstone Festival, then the Sunflower Cottage Festival, then in October we opened up the Pumpkin Patch to fundraise for K9 Search and Rescue.
“It was a busy couple of months planning, preparing and playing! We had mixed fortune with the weather – there were some really hot days and others when it rained a bit. But we got there in the end!
Eva Rowan, lead singer with “The thing Is” and an organiser of events at Sunflower Cottage, said: “We have raised a total of £19,363 for four different local charities… the Cancer Fund for Children, Chest Heart and Stroke, Life Change Changes Lives and K9 Search and Rescue. These funds were raised from August to October over the different events we ran.
“We are already planning ahead for our community events for later this year and we want to build on the many people who came along and supported us last year. We will be having a more ‘botanical’ emphasis on the festival.
“We have had excellent feedback from everyone involved including the public and we can build on it this coming year.
“They all had a great time picking sunflowers and listening to live bands who gave their time up for free. There were lots of things for the children to do and everyone just chilled out and enjoyed the atmosphere.
“I’d like to thank the many sponsors who got behind us, and the bands, and army of helpers and all the people who came along for the craic.
“It was quite a unique experience in a very relaxing rural setting. Sometimes we just need to get away from it all and just chill out.
“I’m the lead singer in my five-piece band, “The thing is” and we played at the events and were well received. It was an interesting experience covering these events as we had to learn so much.
“We are used to playing inside big venues such as the Empire, Mandella Hall and different large clubs.
“All the bands enjoyed their time on the specially-made stage at Sunflower Cottage. People just sat around and listed to the music while their children played and went into the sunflower fields. It was different. And fun!
“So a big shout out for the bands!”
The Thing Is band members Bella Bryson and Ed Gilmore said they set up the sound system for the performance area and that it was an experience as they were so used to setting up in inside venues.
So plans are well afoot for a re-run of last year’s events with some improvements and new ideas. All we need now is for the sun to shine for a few weeks this autumn.
Life Change Changes Lives director Ailish Teague said: “On behalf of everyone at LCCL charity, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Conal Montgomery, Duxy Leahy and all the talented musicians and crew who bring the incredible Cornerstone Festiva to life.
“And a special thanks to the wonderful venue hosts, the Sunflower Cottage and Eva Rowan for creating such a welcoming space.
“The funds raised through your efforts mean the world to our small local charity helping us to continue our vital work in the community.
“Your generosity, time and talent make a profound difference and we are deeply grateful so thank you.
“We sincerely hope that the Cornerstone Festival can return to thjs fantastic venue again this year, as so many attendees commented on the relaxed family and dog-friendly venue, and their delight at seeing new and exciting venues being established in the area. Especially those benefitting so many local charities.”
Ryan Gray, K9 Search and Rescue, who recently brought his dog to a search for a missing person search in Spain, said: “Our charity provides an important service in searching for people We hope there is a happy outcome but sometimes there is not. Finding a missing person provides closure for families and friends. So we thank you all for supporting our cause.”
Sarah Herron, Community Fundraising officer for Chest Heart and Stroke said: “We thank everyone for their support. These are vital funds which go towards supporting research and fighting these key health issues in our community.”
Cancer Fund for Children community fundraiser Cormac McMullan said: “We support children with cancer and their families from across the island and the work we do at Daisy Lodge in Newcastle is first class and we are very appreciative of the support from the Sunflower festivities.”
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or check out photos at: flickr.com/people/conall and search for Sunflower and Cornerstone festivals.
