Saturday night saw Celtic FC Foundation host our first ever Sleep Out event in Donegal, as supporters turned up in their numbers to spend the night outdoors, battling the elements – from 9.30pm until 5.30am the following morning.
The group was a mix of individual supporters and representatives from CSCs across the country including the Rosses, Ballymena Shamrock, Coalisland, Laois, South Derry and Tyrone No.1.
Collectively, participants are on course to raise a phenomenal total in the region of £19K/€22K for our 2022 Christmas Appeal. However, fundraising is ongoing and there’s still time to support the Donegal Sleep Out team by making a donation HERE.
Every penny/cent secured through this event will be spent directly in Ireland, to support those most in need within a number of communities via our Irish charity beneficiaries – Women’s Aid Dublin, Women’s Aid Belfast & Lisburn, Annagry Saint Vincent De Paul and the Irish Red Cross Creeslough Community Support Fund.
The Celtic Sleep Out, Donegal took place at Na Méilte (The Banks) in Mullach Dearg, which is located in the Rosses and is home to the local GAA club Naomh Muire Íochtar Na Rosann.
The Rosses area holds special historical significance to Celtic Football Club, having provided the first sod of turf to be laid at the new Celtic Park and, following registration at 9.00pm, participants headed along to visit a plaque commemorating the gift of this sod and heard a few words from a member of the Rosses CSC who had travelled over with it in 1995.
As the participants then returned to begin the Sleep Out, the group were in high spirits, despite the extremely low temperatures, as we kicked off the next eight-hour period.
The proceedings began with a fantastic Q&A session with Donegal GAA legend and former Celtic coach, Jim McGuinness, who shared some wonderful insights into his time working within both sports. Huge thanks to Jim for kindly giving up his time to join us.
We were also joined by award-winning country and folk music artist Sina Theil, and, just as she had done for our Sligo event in 2021, Sina brought along her guitar and entertained her fellow participants with an array of Celtic favourites, as well as a few of her own original songs.
Despite some challenging conditions faced throughout the night, our participants continued to remain upbeat until the event came to a close at around 5.30am.
We offer special thanks to our friends at The Association of Irish Celtic Supporters’ Clubs, the Rosses CSC, the Association of Donegal Celtic Supporters and our fantastic hosts at GAA club Naomh Muire Íochtar Na Rosann. Without their support, generosity, advice and assistance, the event simply wouldn’t have been possible.
We also offer thanks to two local supermarkets who kindly provided tea, coffee and biscuits to keep the group going through the night plus breakfast for each participant in the morning.
Last but by no means least, we thank all of our Sleep Out participants for their incredible efforts, and also all of those who very kindly supported them. The proceeds from this event will play a vital role in helping to deliver this year’s Christmas Appeal, particularly in Ireland.
Through our Appeal, we want to give hundreds of families in our communities the Christmas they deserve, making sure there’s food on the table and gifts under the tree.
We also aim to help pensioners, women and children in refuge, the homeless community and refugees – as well as a whole host of others facing poverty and hardship.
The generosity and compassion of the Celtic support is truly unsurpassed and we simply cannot make a difference to the lives of so many without you.
Together, we can Share the Magic this Christmas.
To get behind this year’s Christmas Appeal, you can:
- Donate online HERE
- Donate via PayPal HERE
- Donate via Facebook HERE
- Donate by text – text ‘CELTIC’ followed by ‘£1’, ‘£5’ or ‘£10’ to 70085*
- Donate in Cash – there are collection boxes located in all Celtic Stores
- Donate by Cheque – payable to ‘Celtic FC Foundation’ and sent to Celtic FC Foundation, Celtic Park, Glasgow G40 3RE
- Provide support through your Christmas shopping in Celtic stores or online by purchasing an item from ‘Walfrid’s Wishlist’ HERE
- Provide support through your Christmas shopping via Give as you Live and AmazonSmile HERE
- Sign up for the Santa Stroll 1 Mile or 5K on Saturday, December 10 HERE
- Sign up for the Celtic Sleep Out, London on Saturday, December 10 HERE
- Enter our new Christmas Appeal Prize Draw HERE
- Purchase our brand new T-shirt HERE
Thank you for your magnificent support.
*Texts will cost the donation amount, plus one standard rate message
