Latest Laois Sport: Local Celtic Supporters club continues its great charitable work
Sliabh Bladhma Laois CSC Continue Club’s Charitable Roots
During the last season Sliabh Bladhma Laois Celtic Supporters Club has continued with its club ethos of the charitable roots set out by founding father of Celtic Football Club Brother Walfrid by supporting charities in Laois & Ireland. This is something the supporters club based in Kavanagh’s Bar in Portlaoise has been doing for a number of years and will continue to do in the future.
On the anniversary of Celtic Football Club’s formation, Six Members of the Laois CSC took part in the Celtic FC Foundation Sleep Out event in Sligo on Saturday 8th November 2021 spending the night outdoors, battling the elements – from 10.00pm until 6.00am on Sunday morning.
Through their efforts, the Laois club members raised a magnificent total €3200 with over €23,000 in total from all other participants for the Christmas Appeal Football for Good Fund with money invested directly in Ireland to a women’s shelter charity.
Being the 1st sleepout event held in Ireland and also taking place at Brother Walfrid Park in Ballymote, Co Sligo – the home town of Celtic FC’s Founding Father this event held huge historical and emotional significance for the six Laois CSC members and Celtic Family involved. Participants arrived at 9.00pm for the event briefing and, in a very poignant show of unity and respect, the hardy group then made their way to the Brother Walfrid memorial to pay homage to the man who started Celtics incredible and historic journey back in 1887. (Picture – Laois CSC Members – Steven Newsome (Club Chairman), Mick Hurley, Stephen Hurley, Sean Hurley, Brendan Whelan, Jason O’Regan)
Despite some challenging conditions faced throughout the night, Sliabh Bladhma Laois CSC participants continued to remain upbeat and in high spirits throughout until the event came to a close at around 6am.
The Celtic Supporters Club followed this up by being one of the main sponsors at a charity darts event held in the Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow in aid of Hero’s Aid (Front Line Workers) where professional darts players Gary Anderson, Rob Cross, Devon Petersen and Brendan Dolan showed their skills against local darts players all for a good cause.
Going into a new season after the summer the Laois Celtic Supporters Club will continue to support local charities in Laois making donations to help charities in need. The club membership has grown steadily over the years to approximately 50 members not including additional family members which through the continued support of its members allows the club to be able to support worthy causes.
‘’The mentality of the club is that we are a supporter’s club of an Irish team playing in Scotland (due to the club’s origins) and its testament to all of our members even during the tough times everyone has had over the past few years that the generosity and kindness of Celtic minded people in Laois continues to shine through with our members.’’ – Steven Newsome (Laois CSC Chairman).
For anyone interested in joining the Sliabh Bladhma Laois CSC you can contact us via club page on Facebook, via @LaoisCSC on Twitter or LaoisCSCMerchandise@outlook.com and meetings are held in Kavanaghs Bar, Main Street, Portlaoise. We are always open to any suggestions for local charities which we can support in the upcoming year.