Winner of Father Ted theme quiz gets whistle

The winner of a charity quiz on Saturday 27 April at Clarke’s Bar Mullingar got a whistle, which is what Father Damo stole during his episode on Father Ted. Joe Rooney, the actor who planed Father Damo, hosted the event, which was organised by Mullingar 4 All and Longford-Westmeath IPSC.

Four of the five rounds were Father Ted related and there was one general knowledge round for the almost a full house of quiz goers. At one stage Joe stopped to play comedic tunes, and for the Lovely Girls Competition people did some modelling and made sandwiches.

The quiz and raffle raised €1256.45, which has been donated to Samia Alatrash and her family. Samia is a Palestinian journalist whose photo went viral when she was captured hugging the dead body of her niece in Gaza. Her family are attempting to flee from Palestine for safety, and she said that the money raised will go to her brother. Samia has support from others groups who are raising money for her and her family through selling T-shirts and other items.

Christine O’Mahony, chairperson of Mullingar 4 All and Longford-Westmeath IPSC, said: “We are thankful for the people of Mullingar, Joe Rooney and Clarke’s Bar. Thanks to their generosity we can help in some way to get Samia and her family to Egypt.

“It is a shame that people have to flee their homeland in order to stay alive, and we repeat our calls for a ceasefire.”

Mullingar 4 All and Longford-Westmeath IPSC also hosted events during the Bailiú Festival over the bank holiday weekend, and are looking at organising events as an alternative to the Eurovision. Ms O’Mahony said that Eurovision have dropped Russia because of Ukraine, so protesters are asking Eurovision to ban Israel until a ceasefire is in place.