Pint of stout auctioned for €380 in Ballycotton
Image 1 of 4
Mark and Sonya were named winners of the Ballymaloe Foods Best Dressed at the event.Image 2 of 4
RNLI volunteers Sile Scanlon, Adrianna Hegarty, Rowan McSweeney, and Mark White.Image 3 of 4
RIGHT INSET: Rupert Hugh Jones of Rossmore Oysters.Image 4 of 4
Guests were treated to an elegant table setup.The price of drink is really getting out of hand in East Cork with a single pint of Murphy’s going for nearly €400 last week! But there’s a very good reason.
Oysters and stout flowed freely in Ballycotton last Friday at the RNLI Dress to Impress Dinner Dance fundraiser, hosted in the Bayview Hotel overlooking Ballycotton harbour.
The evening began with oysters and Murphy’s (stout) reception, freshly shucked by Rupert of Rossmore Oysters, complemented by drinks sponsored by Tattan Trawlers and Murphy’s Stout. Once guests had enjoyed the reception, they were treated to a menu from Ciarán Scully and his talented chefs, featuring delicate lemon sole and succulent beef.
One of the evening’s most moving moments came when Andy Browne, Ballycotton RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, delivered a heartfelt thank you and announced the news that Ballycotton RNLI has been selected to receive a new Shannon Class lifeboat in 2027, replacing the current Trent Class Austin Lidbury, which has been on station since 1998. Capable of 25 knots and powered by water jets instead of propellers, the Shannon Class is renowned for its speed and manoeuvrability, features that can make the difference between life and death at sea.
After the reception, guests were invited to bid on prizes ranging from a luxury South African hotel stay to a generous Ballymaloe Farm / Grainstore package, fine jewellery, and the evening’s most talked-about lot: a single pint of Murphy’s that sparked a bidding battle and finally sold for a jaw-dropping €380.
Further fun followed with a lively round of Heads N’ Tails, with a voucher courtesy of the Corrigan Collection, before DJ Chris Tattan filled the dance floor late into the night. By the end of the evening, €17,382 had been raised which will all go towards funding Ballycotton’s new lifeboat.
The RNLI volunteers as Best Dressed award went to Mark and Sonya who received a Ballymaloe Foods hamper for their style and elegance.