Shoot N Stars put everything on the table for annual fundraiser
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Kevin Kennedy and David Hogg from Shoot ‘n’ Stars. Thomas GibbonsImage 2 of 15
Bob and Orla Keating at the quiz. Thomas GibbonsImage 3 of 15
Monica O’Gorman, David Corroon and Orla Carpenter at the Annebrook House Hotel. Thomas GibbonsImage 4 of 15
Anne Marie Hogg from Mullingar and Helen Flynn from Crookedwood. Thomas GibbonsImage 5 of 15
Tony and Frank Barron from Mullingar. Thomas GibbonsImage 6 of 15
Dorothy Hanlon from Rochfortbridge and Martina Kennedy from Mullingar. Thomas GibbonsImage 7 of 15
Amanda Butler with Bernie Corroon who helped organise the quiz. Thomas GibbonsImage 8 of 15
Irene and Eamon McGowan at the fundraiser. Thomas GibbonsImage 9 of 15
Bernie and Pat Donoghue from Mullingar. Thomas GibbonsImage 10 of 15
Padraig Flynn was the quizmaster. Thomas GibbonsImage 11 of 15
Corina Curran and Fiona McCormack at Thursday’s table quiz. Thomas GibbonsImage 12 of 15
Aoife and Roisin Galvin from Athlone. Thomas GibbonsImage 13 of 15
Christy, Jamie and Catriona Cooney from Ballinabrackey. Thomas GibbonsImage 14 of 15
Patrick Winters, Helen Winters and Bernadette Maloney on Thursday last at the Shoot ‘N’ Stars fundraiser. Thomas GibbonsImage 15 of 15
Maura Kelly, Marie Byrne and Cllr Bill Collentine from Mullingar. Thomas Gibbons“It was great, fantastic, I just can’t believe it,” said Bernie Corroon, a volunteer coach at the Shoot ‘N’ Stars Club in Mullingar. Bernie was speaking after the club’s table quiz last Thursday in the Annebrook House Hotel, where there were almost 30 tables of quiz fans.
The quiz is the main annual fundraiser for the club, a number of whom are preparing for the Special Olympics Ireland games, from where they have the opportunity to qualify for the world games, taking place in Chile in 2027. “It was great, it was a great atmosphere, and everybody was so happy and jolly and all ready to answer the questions,” said Bernie.
“Some of the questions were a bit hard all right but they were fun as well.
“Padraig Flynn who was the Fear an Tí, he did a great range of questions, in television, music, general knowledge,history, geography, he covered everything.”
The night also included a raffle that had 19 prizes on offer. “People were so generous and there were so many people there that aren’t affiliated with the club,” said Bernie. “It’s fantastic to see the community spirit and support we get as a club because we’re quite small.”
I wasn’t just the volunteers who came out to work and prepare for the big quiz. The athletes also lent a helping hand. “The athletes were working last night and I’d say they were tired today, because they went round and collected up all the pamphlets.
“So they were running around the place and they had a great night. They got to have a laugh with people and it’s nice to see them in person talking with us.”
Bernie thanked the parents and business owners who sponsored the raffle, the staff at the Annebrook for the facilities and also for sponsoring some of the prizes.
Special Olympic Shoot N Stars meet on Monday and Tuesday nights at the St Mary’s gym. They have 52 athletes in all, 12 of whom will be representing the club and the Connaught region at the All-Ireland Games in Dublin on June 18-21.
Bernie added: “It’s not all about the 12 that are going to the games in Dublin – it’s the other 40-odd players who all do their training every week and that is important. What is lovely is that they are so happy for the ones that are going – they support them and they’re thrilled and excited for them. There’s great camaraderie there among all the athletes.”