Ardara’s Poor Farmers Association (P.F.A) Charity Auction has raised an amazing €52,000 this Christmas.
The annual auction was back in full swing at Teague’s Bar last night after moving online during the pandemic. But the excitement of the livestock auction was welcomed back to the local bar this week, where lambs and ewes made up many of the big-ticket lots!
Every Christmas for the past 16 years, the local farming community gets together to raise money for a host of local and national charities. Straw, spuds, turf, haddock and even a cuddly lion were on this year’s eclectic list of 124 lots kindly donated from near and far.
Since 2006, the auction has raised over €411,000, and that has now jumped to €463,599 after €52,450 was raised last night. Proceeds for 2022 will go to Charlie Bennet Fund, Ability Rocks, Hugh’s House Dublin and the Irish Heart Foundation.
The PFA wishes to thank everyone who has donated lots and for their support for the last 16 years. John Breslin of Teagues Bar has extended his thanks to the Poor Farmers Auction committee and the communities of Ardara, Glenties, Narin and beyond for their generosity.
Where did the Poor Farmers Association come from? Here’s the funny story:
“He’ll find it for you, but when you do find it make sure you throw a few coins into the box.”
Anyone who has visited Teague’s Bar in Ardara and had the pleasure of being served by the lovely Eileen Teague will have heard her say this now-famous phrase ( well, Famous in Teague’s Bar)
The Poor Farmers Association and subsequent Poor Farmers Auction was established on a cold wet night in the winter of 2005, where a couple of locals were sat at the bar counter in Teagues Ardara putting the world to right.
The St Anthony box on the counter was in tatters and needed a new cover, Eileen was giving out that it needed to be fixed up, “How could you expect anyone to throw a few coins into the box when you couldn’t see St Anthony on it,” she said.
Lord knows Poor St Anthony was owed a small fortune, what with all the things he had located in Teague’s…Car keys, mobile phones….to name but a few.
The barman Paul Molloy decided to cover the St Anthony box with an Ardara GAA lotto envelope but instead of writing St Anthony’s name on it, he wrote “The Poor Farmers Fund”, to the amusement of his customers.
Around a hundred euro was raised in the St Anthony Box and it was decided the money would go to the Donegal Hospice. The idea was given legs and grew and grew it was discussed at length to hold a Livestock Auction for the Poor Farmers in the Bar, with all the proceeds going to the Donegal Hospice.
So, the Poor Farmers Association was formed, the Livestock Auction was to be held that Christmas in Teagues.
Sixteen years later, the committee with all the original members are continuing to go from strength to strength, raising huge amounts of money for local charities.
