Rossi To Host Ireland Premier Horse Panto Derby

ROSSI HOST IRELAND’S FIRST EVER PANTOMIME HORSE DERBY

for LIFE & TIME.

A County Down-based cycling and running club are set to host an ‘Irish first’ to raise funds for Life & Time – a local charity dedicated to providing end-of-life support for those wishing to die at home.

The ROSSI Rostrevor have launched the first ever All-Ireland Pantomime Horse Derby to take place on Sunday 16th September at the historic Rostrevor House, sponsored by local couple Gerard & Kathleen Tinnelly.

(l-r) All Ireland Pantomime Horse Derby committee (ROSSI) Brendan Parr, Hugh Brennan, Danielle Gannon, Kathleen Tinnelly at Rostrevor House, with Barry Og McConville and  ‘Rostrevor Rum’, the bookies favourite for the Derby win. 

The Tinnelly family have opened the grounds of Rostrevor House to host this unique event which will see companies sponsor 20 Pantomime horses as they ‘race’ against each other in a specially created arena.  The event will also have a Garden Fete with food stalls, live music, games, old style funfair, tug of war and tossing the sheaf and much more.

ROSSI spokesperson Martin McGinn said: “This is the first time an event like this has been organised in Ireland and it’s going to be fantastic fun and a great family event in a unique location.

“We’re inviting families across Newry and Mourne to come along for what will be a wonderful family day out.

“We’re are still looking for local companies to get involved and we have a few horses we need to secure sponsorship for. We provide the costumes and coordinate the entire event including insurance – we just need a company to sponsor the horse and 2 volunteers who are up for an afternoon’s craic!

“There’s huge potential for great PR and social marketing for local firms involved at this unique family event in aid of a very worthy cause, so please do get in touch with @ROSSI on facebook or Twitter for more information.”

Life & Time is a registered charity formed by Rostrevor local, Doctor Henry McLaughlin. Life & Time have recently been granted charity status and have recruited, and are in the process of, training a number of nurses to deliver end of life care at home in the Rostrevor, Warrenpoint and Burren region at present.

The All-Ireland Pantomime Horse Derby & Garden Fete takes place at Rostrevor House on Sunday 16th September 2018.