Winner announced in St Brendan's trip to New York competition

A BALLYCROY man was the winner of the St Brendan’s Village competition to win two tickets to New York to see Mayo play the first round of the GAA Connacht football championship.

Thomas Lynch from Drumslide in Ballycroy was the lucky winner whose name was drawn from thousands of entrants in the Mulranny St Brendan's Village draw to win two tickets to New York.

The draw was made this evening in Doherty's Bar in Mulranny with Dr Jerry Cowley announcing the name of Thomas Lynch as the winner of the competition.

The competition to win two tickets to New York to see Mayo play in the first round of the championship on Sunday, April 7 was part of a series of fundraising initiatives to raise funds for St Brendan's Nursing Unit in Mulranny which is under severe financial pressure.

St Brendan's Nursing Unit opened in 1998 but its capacity has been reduced from 36 beds to a current capacity of 24. As a result of the income deficit from beds and increased operational costs they have been running at a financial loss.

As a result, a campaign Save St Brendan's was launched last September with fundraising drives taking place to raise money to build two extra rooms to help make the service financially viable.

Speaking at the draw in Doherty's, Dr Cowley who is the Chairman of St Brendan's thanked all the people who have supported them since they launched their appeal and hoped with their continued support St Brendan's will remain open for another 25 years and beyond.

Dr Cowley congratulated Thomas Lynch on his fabulous prize and hopes he enjoys his time in the Big Apple. He also thanked Patricia Lonergan who donated the prize to St Brendan’s for her generosity and continued support for St Brendan's.