This is a dedicated Project undertaken by the Byrne Family and Members of St. Helens Bay Golf Clubs. The initiative started in 2005 through a relationship between Fr. Kyran Murphy of the Kiltegan Missionaries in Africa and Larry Byrne. In the early days of St. Helens Golf Classics were held to provide funds to the Missionary Societies Projects in Africa. The Association between the two organisations had the common purpose of developing educational enterprise, by which it was hoped those benefiting would encourage schooling and learning in their own native communities.

The first Project was undertaken in 2005 with the help of Fr. Ned Ryan, whose ambition was to provide a secondary girls and boys boarding school to service the primary schools in his parish, nearly the size of any two counties. Ned supervised the building of the school classrooms, dormitories, toilets, refectory and teachers houses over an 18 month period, using all local materials and local skilled and unskilled labour.Five members of St. Helens Bay went to see the construction in 2006, visiting neighbouring primary schools and meeting the diocesan personnel who would continue with the skills help to sustain the school. The capacity of the school is 600 pupils, which saw its record intake of students last year, the school and its facilities was officially opened in September 2009. St. Helens Bay members contributed about €45,000 to the project, the equivalent of €225,000 in build terms here.

The next project undertaken by the Club Sport for Africa Committee was the provision of funds to an Aids Orphanage run by Fr. Michael Murphy in South Africa. This project has been delayed for completion by the bureaucracy of the local government who will not fulfil promises made three years ago. Fr. Michael is still battling to save the lives of young orphaned children by providing some basic life needs and a meagre education. This year we gave him further assistance and we intend supporting his work so long as he feels he can keep it going. The assistance provided to date has been in the order of €14,000. 2008 saw the Committee organising its most successful fund raising events, particularly the Golf Classics and the Auction at Easter. Members generosity is amazing providing us with the opportunity to undertake our biggest project to date. Meetings were held with another Kiltegan Priest who has worked for 30 years in Malawi where he lectured in two of the countries third level colleges. Fr. John Ryan is heading up the reconstruction and refurbishment of Mzuzee Technical College with funds amounting to €70,000 committed over the next three years by St. Helens Bay. The first phase of this project is beginning this January, 2009 with a contribution of €5,000 already sent to Fr. John. There will be similar events organised this year to provide funding for this project. If you would like to participate in the Committee, donate items for our Auction, get in teams for the Golf Classic or send us a cheque then we would be delighted to meet you.

DO IT NOW

Another project undertaken by members was the collection of over 1,500 sports jerseys which through the kind sponsorship of An Post, we were able to send to children in six different primary schools, who value these garments like collectors items. No doubt many of our members are members of rugby, soccer, G.A.A., hockey or any sports clubs who change their strip regularly. Please ask the lads in your school or club to bring in their old jerseys to you give them to us and we will send them to schools in Zambia and Malawi.

In 2009 St. Helens Bay members came up to the mark once again for the Clubs Official Charity. Stand proud, because in the current climate, to have increased the attendance, and the items for auction, was an achievement in itself. Between €6,000 and €7,000 (with all costs paid) was raised at the Easter Dinner on the night through the attendance sales, the raffle, the auction and peoples direct donations. Our Golf Classic was also a huge success hopefully making the remarkable sum of €4,000. Further fundraising events are being organised for 2010.

Projects Completed
Secondary 600 pupil Boarding School in Zambia
Aids Drop in Centre and truck in South Africa

Projects under Construction 2009-2011
3rd Level Technical Institution in Malawi

Project Proposed
A number of Primary Schools in Kenya

Do Not Forget
We sent over 2,000 sports jerseys to 6 parishes in Africa in 2009.
Please collect old jerseys for our 2010 distribution and hand them in to St. Helens Bay office

IT IS YOUR CLUBS PROJECT – GET INVOLVED, IT DELIVERS RESULTS