A house is being built in Westport, Co Mayo, to provide funds for aid work in Haiti. The construction of the new house is the major project in a £100,000 fund-raising venture for Concern.
The house is being built free, with all labour donated by tradesmen. The cost of the labour is then being forwarded to Concern by the owner of the house, Mr Michael Gibbons, a property developer who plans to sell the house when built.
The project started when a Westport native, Orla O'Malley, now living in New York, was asked to deliver computers to Haiti on behalf of Concern. She was so moved by the conditions in Haiti that she immediately undertook to raise $100,000 (almost £100,000).
An estimated two-thirds of the population in Haiti live on less than £25 a month. On a trip to Westport recently, Orla met a local electrician, Paul Kilkelly. "I offered to wire a house and donate my earnings to the project. One thing led to another and before long several of my friends supported the idea," said Paul.
The house is being constructed in Kilmeena, a few miles from Westport. Paul Kilkelly also said the group would now be looking for donations of materials for the house.
"We hope to blow the £100,000 target out of the water," he said. "We now need windows, blocks, doors, slates and everything in between. We already have a kitchen worth £10,000 from Creative Wood Kitchens in Westport. All the money that would ordinarily go to paying for these materials will be put into the Concern fund."
Some weeks ago Paul, known locally as "Jesus", shaved off his hair and beard as part of the fund-raising drive. Four colleagues are also in training for the New York City Marathon, which will take place in October. All monies raised will be handed over to the Concern fund.
Further details about the fund-raising project are available from Paul Kilkelly at 087-6174154.