The Claddagh Fund–the charity established in 2009 by Dropkick Murphys founder Ken Casey–has teamed with netRaffle.org to host a raffle for an all expense paid trip to Dublin, Ireland to see Dropkick Murphys play at the Olympia Theatre on April 22, 2010. Raffle tickets are only $2 each and are available until Monday, April 12, 2010 at: www.claddaghfund.org/landsdowne2dublin.php.
The winner will receive:
* Two tickets to the Thursday, April 22, 2010 Dropkick Murphys concert at the Olympia Theater in Dublin, Ireland
* A meet and greet with the Dropkick Murphys and an autographed Live On Lansdowne, Boston MA DVD/CD
* Three nights hotel accommodations at the Clarence Hotel (owned by U2’s Bono and The Edge) in Dublin Ireland (single room/double occupancy, check-in Wednesday, April 21, 2010, check-out Saturday, April 24, 2010)
* A $2,500 allowance for airfare, ground transportation and meals
* A cash prize in the amount of $1,482.25 to mitigate the winner’s tax liability that results from winning the raffle. This prize is withheld and paid, on behalf of the winner, directly to the IRS ($1,225.00) and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ($257.25)
If the winner is unable to make the trip, The Claddagh Fund will offer the cash equivalent of the entire prize package.
The Claddagh Fund will be contributing all of the proceeds from this raffle through the American Ireland Fund to the Belvedere Youth Club, a children’s center in Dublin, Ireland. The money will fund the “Weekend Holiday Program,” a weekend retreat for inner city children who will travel free of charge to the Club’s cottage in County Wexford to enjoy sports, arts and music in a relaxed environment.
The Claddagh Fund was established by Dropkick Murphys founder Ken Casey in support of non-profits that champion the causes of children, veterans and those suffering from alcohol and drug addiction. The Claddagh Fund is committed to the three attributes symbolized in the Claddagh ring: friendship, love and loyalty. The Claddagh Fund seeks to harness the passion of Dropkick Murphys friends, family and fans to significantly improve the quality of life of children, their families and the most vulnerable populations in the community.
The inaugural Claddagh Fund event, Claddagh Fund Skate in the Park, was held Saturday, December 19, 2009 on the ice at Fenway Park—built for the historic NHL Winter Classic Game—and was followed by a reception at the House of Blues. The event raised over $50,000 for the fund. Claddagh Fund Skate in the Park not only provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to skate the NHL ice at Fenway Park but also brought together friends of the Dropkick Murphys that included athletes from Boston’s major sports teams, celebrity guests, families and fans.
The Claddagh Fund’s Celebrity Bartending Party was held at McGreevy’s Third Base Saloon in Boston on February 13, 2010 and raised nearly $15,000 for Hope for Haiti Children’s Center to provide food, medical attention, shelter, emotional support and eventual family placement to children left orphaned by the tragic earthquakes in Haiti. Celebrity bartenders at the event included Dropkick Murphys, along with NESN’s Heidi Watney, NECN’s Chris Collins, “The Mad Fisherman” Charlie Moore, funny gal Sue Costello, gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker, boxing legend Micky Ward, former New England Patriot Christian Fauria, and Boston Bruins legend/WAAF personality Lyndon Byers.
For more information on The Claddagh Fund, go to www.claddaghfund.org.
