Queensland GAA appeal after flood damage

Dear sir - Public donations are being sought in a desperate bid to restore extensive damage to the Queensland Gaelic Athletic Association's (GAA) clubhouse and grounds following January's record breaking floods in Australia. With the tragic loss of dozens of lives and thousands of residents affected, many in Queensland are still struggling to come to terms with the widespread devastation caused by one of the state's worst natural disasters in history. As waters rose to unprecedented levels across many areas of Brisbane, Queensland's GAA grounds and clubhouse were flooded to the point of total destruction. We urge the Irish community to donate to their Flood Relief Appeal to help fund the refurbishment of their clubhouse and grounds as soon as possible. Much of what our community has worked hard to build over the last 20 years has been destroyed, damaged or left useless and unworkable. We have started the clean out of the clubhouse and grounds, relying as always on the support of our local Irish community and volunteers. But we realise these people have already lost so much in the floods and our community is unable to respond as it would normally. Queensland GAA's biggest fundraising event of the year - a festival run on the Sunday before St Patrick's Day - has become the largest St Patrick's Day event in Australia over the last five years. We urgently need to get the clubhouse functioning by 13 March 2011 in order to host this event. Later this year we are also scheduled to host the major GAA event in Australia and New Zealand, the Australasian GAA National Games - a highlight of the GAA calendar year in the southern hemisphere with extensive coverage from Irish national papers and various papers throughout the world. President of the Irish Australian Support Association of Queensland Des Ryan has appealed to the countless local Irish communities throughout the world to provide much needed relief to Queensland's GAA. As with each local GAA throughout Ireland and other parts of the world including the US and Canada, Queensland's GAA has served as an integral part of the lives of many in our local Irish community. Queensland's GAA clubhouse and grounds continues to provide a platform for thousands of young Irish travellers and newly immigrated families that, now more than ever, are making their way to Brisbane each year, by allowing them to integrate into our local community with the kind of support they need," Mr Ryan said. To donate to Queensland GAA's Flood Relief Appeal: Donations can be made directly into our Account, BSB: 124001, Acc: 13053521, Name: Queensland Gaelic Football Association, SWIFT: QBANAU4B, Bank: Bank of Queensland, 255 Queen Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000. Or if you prefer you can post your cheque to PO Box 200, Archerfield, QLD 4108 For more details, including photos of flood damage to clubhouse and grounds, visit http://www.gaelicfootballqld.com.au/ or phone +61 419703923. Yours, Seamus Sullivan, President, Queensland GAA.