By Grace Foley

Killarney Rotary Club will hold their Annual Wine and Art Night in aid of local communities and charities on Wednesday November 29 in the Great Southern Killarney.

The Killarney Rotary Club Wine and Art Night is run in conjunction with Daly’s SuperValu and Killarney Brewing & Distilling Company. This year Killarney Credit Union have also become involved as sponsors of the event. The event begins at 7.15pm and Patrons can view and buy Art and Crafts from local artist’s around Kerry and further afield.

Wine, Beer AND Cheese tasting opportunities will be available on the night. All proceeds raised from the evening will go to local charities and community projects. Tickets are now available at a cost of €25. For further details contact killarneyrotaryclub@gmail.com.

Now in its 20th year, the Rotary Club’s Annual Wine and Art night remains one of the highlights of the Killarney social calendar with hundreds expected to attend on the night. President of Killarney Rotary Club, Barry Murphy said “Hopefully this year will be another huge success and all the beneficiaries will benefit. This event supports a lot of local groups to carry out projects they couldn't otherwise proceed with."

This year’s beneficiaries are Anabla National School, Coolick National School, Faha National School, Knockanes National School, Tiernaboul National School, Loreto National School, Gaelscoil Faithleann, The Killarney Cardiac Response, Castleisland Day-care Centre, Kerry Stars, Killarney Cougars Basketball Club, and the Irish Pilgrimage Trust.

There will also be a raffle in aid of the Irish Pilgrimage Trust on the night. The Irish Pilgrimage Trust is a group that brings children and young people with special needs on a week-long Pilgrimage holiday to Lourdes every Easter.

Many of the schools applied for funding through the Wine and Art event as they have projects they wish to complete on the school premises. Principal of Coolick National School, Gearóid O Sullivan said "We are delighted to be a beneficiary this year in the Killarney Rotary Club's annual Wine and Art night. We will use this funding for the modernisation of our classrooms to provide child-friendly, full of colour, atmospheric learning zones for the children."
30% of any sale goes to the fundraiser and the remaining 70% goes to the artist. Local Killarney Artist Betty Rohan (Neeson) plans on exhibiting her art at the Killarney Rotary Club Annual Wine and Art Evening. Betty Rohan usually works in oil and watercolours and Exhibitions of her work range through Ireland, New York & Chicago. Artist Betty Rohan said “The Killarney Rotary Club Wine and Art Evening is a great Killarney night. A gathering of creatives and like-minded people who love the buzz and entertainment of a fantastic local night."

Entertainment will also be provided by well-known Kerry musician Mike Neeson in the lobby. Mike Neeson who has been playing music in Killarney for over 55 years, will entertain the crowd with some 60’s tunes. Mike Neeson encouraged Patrons to attend by saying, “It’s a brilliant charity event, in the month of November where nothing else is happening, so why not come along."

There will also be an auction later in the evening for various paintings from exhibiting artists on the night who have donated their pieces. 100% of any monies raised in this auction will go to this Rotary Club fundraiser. The aim of the Rotary Club is to bring together people across generations who wish to create lasting change in the world, in their communities, and in themselves.