€380 Pint of Murphy’s Steals the Show as ‘Dress to Impress’ RNLI Dinner Dance Raises Over €17,000

Pat Nolan
Oct 6
2 min read

Monday 6 October 2025

Last Friday 3rd October, 101 guests from Ballycotton and the surrounding area Dressed To Impress for a Ballycotton RNLI Fundraising Dinner Dance, hosted in the elegant surroundings of the Bayview Hotel overlooking Ballycotton harbour and lifeboat.

RNLI Dress to Impress Dinner Dance L-R Sile Scanlon, Adrianna Hegarty, Rowan McSweeney and Mark White. Photo Credit: RNLI Ballycotton

The evening began in style with a sparkling oysters and Murphy’s reception, freshly shucked by Rupert of Rossmore Oysters and complemented by drinks generously sponsored by Tattan Trawlers and Murphy’s Stout. Once guests had enjoyed the reception, they were treated to a tantalising 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 exciting news: 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.

Then came the auction, led with flair by Colm Farrell. Guests bid enthusiastically 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 superb voucher courtesy of the Corrigan Collection, before DJ Chris Tattan filled the dance floor late into the night. By the end of the evening, an incredible €17,382 had been raised — a wonderful start towards funding Ballycotton’s new lifeboat.

Congratulations also to Mark and Sonya, who were selected by the RNLI volunteers as Best Dressed on the night and received a Ballymaloe Foods hamper for their style and elegance.

A huge thank you goes to all sponsors, supporters and attendees for their generosity — and especially to Cecilia Gallagher and the organising committee for delivering such a memorable event. Truly, it was a night to remember in support of a cause that saves lives every day.