Local artist donates painting to aid effort

Knockcroghery-based artist Anne Rigney has donated a painting to a county-wide effort to raise funds for famine-stricken Somalia. She gifted the piece, entitled Harvest Dance worth over €500 to the Somalia Urgent Relief Fund (SURF) appeal spearheaded by Roscommon native Anne Farrell, after she read about her efforts to collect money for famine victims in the Horn of Africa. The appeal by Oran woman has already raised a fantastic €40,000 to date. "Of course, I was aware of the famine in Somalia and found it very upsetting watching the news and feeling helpless about the situation. But then I thought no, I can do something, I can donate a painting which can be sold to raise money," Anne Rigney, who originally hails from Mount Temple explained this week. "The name of the painting is Harvest Dance. It is oil on paper and is worth in excess of €500. We are selling tickets at €5 each, the price of one drink and the painting will be raffled in six weeks time. Each ticked bought will go toward helping a starving person or child," the artist stressed. Even in tough financial times she believes that everyone can still contribute to people less fortunate than ourselves. "Everyone has something that she or he is uniquely good at, be it baking cakes or playing in a band or having a coffee morning. Irish people have always been good at contributing to world disasters, maybe it's because we have a distant memory of our own famine when millions of Irish people starved. With children dying everyday in Somalia I do believe that each person can make a difference, even with the smallest contribution," Anne, who has exhibited her work all over the world said. She warned people not to fall victim to donor fatigue and urged everyone in the Athlone and South Roscommon areas to support the SURF appeal to help those suffering in Somalia at present, even in a small way. "Sometimes we can become indifferent to the sufferings of others, because it seems every time we turn on the television we are bombarded with images of awful suffering in the world. "But as human beings we must remember that we are all part of the human family and are all inter-connected and it could be our children tomorrow. So please support Somalia at this time and trust that what you give will get directly to the people most in need," she concluded. Anyone can pledge their support to the SURF appeal by calling 087 63584789 or 096 3776340. A bank account has also been set up at Ulster Bank in Castlerea to support the fundraising efforts. The bank account number is 28244341 and the sort code is 98 54 40.