Local Waterford businesses come together for charity appeal
Parker Law and John Keane Photo: Benny Finlay
Liberty Blue’s annual coffee morning in aid of St Vincent de Paul was a roaring success. It brought together many important businesses in the city as a way to celebrate the festive season, as well as raise money for a great cause.
Owner of Liberty Blue Estate Agents, Regina Mangan, told the Waterford News & Star: “This morning’s coffee morning is a really important tradition that’ve been doing for about 15 years. During COVID, we were told we couldn’t have a coffee morning, so we went to the Apple Market. It’s really important for us that we give back to our community. Not only is it about the fundraising, its also about everyone getting together. We meet people here at the coffee morning that we might not have seen for a whole twelve months.”
Regina also gave a special thank you to Larry Bowe and all the team at the Marina Hotel, “They put on an amazing spread. The hotel is amazing, it looks out onto the river and you can watch the swans go by.” Before the coffee morning had even begun, almost €2,000 had been raised for St Vincent de Paul.
Waterford News & Star spoke to Aisling Irish from Parker Law who was at the event for the first time she said: “It’s a lovely event. It’s great to catch up with people.”
John Breene from HB Keane solicitors told Waterford News & Star that he is “a regular attender at this stage. It’s become a Christmas tradition. It’s nice to meet people. It’s the time of year where its also good to help out with a good cause as part of Christmas.”
Catríona Cahill from Primamodel agency attended the event with her sister Detta. She said: “I love to support this charity because Vincent de Paul was our dad’s favourite charity. It’s a charity that works with people we really need on the ground. They’re very tuned in to what’s needed locally.”
But it was just the business community at the event, volunteers for the charity also attended.
The Waterford News & Star spoke to Caroline Purdue who has been a volunteer with St Vincent de Paul for five years. She works in Poleberry sorting out clothing and toy donations.
Living for many years in New Zealand and Australia, Caroline said: “When I moved back to Ireland, I wanted to make my own life.” She said she thinks St Vincent de Paul “do a lot of good. They help people. I like working there, I like the people.”
