THE 2017 World Irish Dancing Championships came to a close in Dublin on Easter Sunday but not before two local dance stars put their best foot forward for a major charity event.
Cara Gaynor and Aideen O’Connell, from Scoil Rince Fingal, swapped their pumps and hard shoes for the RNLI’s yellow wellies to show their support for Mayday, the charity’s annual national fundraising campaign which is calling out for people to ‘Do your bit, fund our kit’.
The talented troupe of Irish dancers, who were competing in the 47th World Irish Dancing Championships, organised by An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha, showed off their signature moves in bright yellow wellies in the city centre to encourage the public to support Mayday.
Worn by generations of crews to grip the deck in slippery conditions, the iconic yellow wellies keep crewmembers safe and steady on stormy seas. Money raised through Mayday fundraising events will help kit out RNLI lifeboat crews so they’re ready to face the harshest conditions at sea, with it costing €2,168 to provide an all-weather lifeboat crew member with all of the vital kit they need during a rescue.
In Dublin, a D class lifeboat will be on display in Grand Canal Square as yellow welly pin badges will be sold on Thursday and Friday, April 27 and 28 from 10am to 4pm. Mayday badges will also be on sale in Aldi stores on Monday, May 1.
To find a Mayday event near you, or to download a fundraising pack, visit RNLI.org/Mayday.
Pauline McGann, RNLI Community Fundraising Manager, said: “Our crews rely on lifesaving kit, like their yellow wellies, lifejackets and helmets, when they go out in all weathers to save lives at sea.”