The pictures don’t do justice to this wonderful, magic evening in the company of the most wonderful and gifted people. The range of music, of song, of wise words. The people: young and old, all in love with the art they presented. Where would you find this? In a world that too often seems to focus on profit, business, competition, margins.

After the most wonderful evening in the church everybody moved to the parish centre for mulled wine, minced pies, hot chocolate and marshmallows – and the auction, followed by the longest raffle  I have attended in my whole life. The auction achieved record prizes for an item donated by friends of Pádraig, as well as the Bank of Ireland (!). The kilt went straight up another 50 euro when the auctioneer promised to wear it on the night – which he duly did. The fabulous meal by New Zealand young chef of the year delivered in a private house and prepared to order, with wine, achieved a prize I have never seen in a charity auction.

It was an outstanding, inspiring evening.