Irish-based voluntary sports clubs based in Brussels, Belgium
Two Irish sports clubs have thrown down the gauntlet of volunteering fundraising by raising a whopping Eu60K for Haiti earthquake victims.

The fact that Cork man and club sponsor, Conchur De Barra, agreed to match every euro raised by the 100 or so volunteers meant that all fundraising efforts were doubled.

The money came from a joint initiative organised by the Brussels-based Belgium GAA club and soccer club FC Irlande.

Both sports clubs combined their efforts to make posters, organise karaoke events, bake cookies with the ladies teams of FC Irlande even posing for and selling their own calendars.

Aid organisations, Haven and Medecin San Frontieres have described the money as being "critical" to the people of Haiti.

Bride Rovers man Conchur de Barra, who hails >from Rathcormac and owns de Valera's Irish Pub in Brussels, expressed his joy at the combined effort of Belgium GAA and FC Irlande in Brussels.

"I was just in Haiti in November and I knew it was the last place on earth that could deal with such a disaster," said Conchur.

"When we suggested organising something everybody got on board and was willing to pitch in. It was amazing to see the entire Irish community in Brussels put their shoulder to the wheel. We had people from all political parties, from all parts of Ireland coming together to help out,"


"It was amazing and something we can be proud of. It was not a uniquely Irish event but we spearheaded it and encouraged others to get involved. It was just a great achievement," added the Rathcormac man.

The fundraising effort culminated in a massive night out in De Valera's Pub in Brussels, where owner Conchur, convinced his own staff to work for free and for the suppliers to donate their booze for the night so all money spent went to organisations in Haiti.

The organisations that benefited were Medecins sans Frontiers (Doctors without Borders) and Haven



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