Mileage Tyres fleadh car park raising funds for Saplings
Owner of Mileage Tyres Mullingar, Frank McDonagh, and his team have opened a new car park for fleadh visitors and all proceeds will go to Saplings Special School.
The car park is close to Red Earth and to Expert Electrical and costs €10 per day.
Mr McDonagh said: “We decided to do it at the very last minute, just a week before the fleadh started.
“We have our own diggers so a couple of the guys from the garage went and they cleaned up the area. They did a fantastic job, I couldn't believe how it turned out.”
Frank then got in touch with Saplings Special School, who were delighted to hear about his fundraiser.
The school provides education for autistic children in Mullingar.
The staff work extraordinarily hard and so Frank feels strongly about helping them when he can.
He said: “They do amazing work teaching the children and it's not an easy job. They’re always underfunded so the few pound that we can collect here will help a little bit.
“Maybe the fleadh event needs a charity to support during the week and Saplings would be a great one to start with.”
Frank is hoping to get more people behind this movement in hopes that more money can be raised for good causes around the town during the Fleadh Cheoil.
The car park has been doing well since opening last week.
Jason Matthews from Mileage Tyres said: “The car park was packed on Sunday, on Monday the weather was terrible but Tuesday and Wednesday were very busy too, which is great.
“We’re hoping it will be even busier coming into the weekend.”
Jason mentioned that people arriving for the festival have parked campervans and mobile homes in the new parking area and a number planned to stay for the full week.
Breda O’Connor from Kerry parked her van there: “We’re here for two nights. We go to all the Fleadh Cheoils in Ireland and now that it's back after two years, we are delighted.
“The celebrations here are fabulous. It’s great to see money being raised for such a good cause too.”
Mrs O’Connor said she would be happy to come back to Mullingar if the fleadh should return to the town next year.
Car park eircode: N91 R761
Opening hours: Arrive from 8am.