The Ice Bucket Challenge which has swept through Westmeath in recent weeks has so far raised more than €400,000 for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA).
The latest online craze is expected to raise even more as donations – mainly made by text message – are rising by the hour.
The Ice Bucket Challenge has seen millions of people around the world drench themselves with iced water. Participants film themselves doing the challenge and post it on social media, nominating others to follow suit. The ripple effect of just a few Ice Bucket Challenges could be in the thousands as people nominate a minimum of three people they’d like to see drenched in ice-cold water.
Those who take on the challenge donate a small amount to charity – a €2 donation being the norm – but those who refuse donate a larger sum.
The phenomenon began in America last month and has raised millions of dollars for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) – the US term for motor neurone disease. Millions of Americans undertook the challenge as well as many celebrities and even former President George W Bush.
Mullingar publican Damien Muldarry, the man in charge at Rory Dolan’s Bar and Restaurant in Yonkers, New York was one of the first to be dunked and he was busy in early July posting staff and customer videos as the nominations rippled.
Those ripples made their way across the Atlantic and over the past fortnight it has taken Ireland by storm.
Chief executive of the IMNDA, Aisling Farrell has said donations escalated considerably following Rose of Tralee host Dáithí Ó Sé taking on the challenge on live television last Monday.
She said that they were delighted with the amount of money raised so far and that donations are continuing to rise by the hour. She was also happy that the craze has led to more information about Motor Neuron Disease.
In Westmeath, many hundreds have taken part, including many well known faces. Tommy and Thomas Nally, the father and son team behind one of Mullingar’s best known shops, Rochforts, were doused at the same time on Saturday morning. They made a big splash on Dominick Street as they were soaked outside their landmark shop and urged others to do likewise or donate to charity.
Before being saturated by his son-in-law Eddie Kelly, Tommy proposed that Mullingar musical legend Mick Foster undertake the challenge.
Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary was gleefully soaked by his staff outside the company’s head office while One Direction’s Niall Horan was doused after he was surprisingly nominated alongside fellow Westmeath “native” Bruce Springsteen by Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder. Marathon man and motivational speaker Gerry Duffy was among the first in Mullingar to be nominated, whilst Niall Breslin has said he will undertake the challenge today (Wednesday). Members of Mullingar band Cronin celebrating their well-received appearance on the Miriam O’Callaghan show also got doused on camera. Mullingar Mayor Cllr Ken Glynn (FF), former Mayor Cllr Peter Burke and Cllr. Andrew Duncan (FG) were among the political names saturated for charity, whilst Topic’s Ronan Casey added his name to the list of Ice Bucket Challenge participants at the weekend. Ahead of their duties at the Electric Picnic festival in Stradbally this week the Mullingar Order of Malta unit also showed they were good sports with a couple of dousings for charity.
Dozens of shop and bar owners also undertook the challenge, with Anthony Doran and Ray Mathews of Number One doused by gleeful customers at the weekend. Greville Arms Manager John Cochrane and Eamon Brady of Whelehans Pharmacy were drenched after being nominated by Gala Belvedere Hills, who themselves had to order in extra bags of ice as supplies dwindled over the last week.
There has been some criticism of the craze, with people nominated against their will and others saying they have been subject to abuse on the street and online for not participating after being nominated.
The craze is similar to the #NoMakeUpSelfie that swept the internet earlier this year.
Women across the world ditched their makeup and raised an unprecedented €1m for the Irish Cancer Society.
A €2 donation can be made to the IMNDA texting MND to 50300.
Motor Neurone Disease is a group of disorders affecting cells that control voluntary muscle activity including speaking, walking, swallowing, and general movement of the body. They are generally progressive in nature, and cause increasing disability and, eventually, death.
