Black-Tie-Affair Raises €20,000 by Jonathan Mullin Advertisement IF Aaron Callaghan and his Athlone Town team can match even a portion of the style on show in the Hodson Bay on Saturday night, then promotion will be well within their grasp. The New Stadium Project Committee held their biggest and most public fundraiser to date and raised a tidy sum with the New Stadium Gala Ball on Saturday night. It was a black-tie-affair with all the regale of a Hollywood opening. 330 patrons signed up for a night of high entertainment, and they weren't to be disappointed. There was nothing spared. On entering the ballroom the ladies were handed a red rose. Every table had a complimentary bottle of champagne. A string quartet played during the meal and the preceding punch reception. This was a powerful show from the New Stadium Project Team, with all frills attached. And it was not without its rewards either. Estimates put the total earnings from the night at €20,000. It will be a long fiscal and fundraising road to the suggested totals needed to open the new arena, but Saturday night showed that the local people are more than willing to support the breathtaking iniative shown by Athlone Town FC. "It seems to me that the best way to pack a home fixture in this town is to charge €100 a head, get everyone to dress like apprentice undertakers, provide an all-seater venue and serve the best of food!" said Master of Ceremonies for the night, Judge Raymond Groarke. Project Manager Tom Burke was a busy man all week, but he was understandably relieved that the night passed off without a hic-cup. "I would like to welcome everybody here and sincerely thank you all for your support of this Gala Ball," he said in his address. "I would like to welcome too, the Athlone Town Committee and Chairman Paddy McCaul. They have been a constant source of help and encouragement and I wish them the best of luck in the new season. I hope that they and their team get the support that they deserve. "Tonight is not just about making money for our New Stadium project. Tonight is also about flying the flag, letting people out there know about the project we are undertaking. We want to make the people of the area feel part of what we are doing," said Tom. "Since becoming involved myself in May of last year I have been lucky enough to have been working with some of the finest people I know. With the people we have on board this project will be successful, I'm sure of that." Burke also had some news on the site development. "The good news is that we are very close to commencing work on site - and the grass at Lissywoolen has been sprayed last week. That may seem like a small thing, but every marathon must begin with the first stride. "The bottom line folks is that, slowly but surely, the dream is becoming a reality. Thanks are due to Tom Fitzgerald, Tony Kilmartin, Kieran Temple, Martin Egan, Tom McEnroe and Ronan Fitzell for the Trojan work they have been so willing to do since this project commenced. "We have been dealt another kind hand too, with the news that we now have tax destination. That means that on any donations over €250 the tax element can be reclaimed by the project team. This proviso applies also to corporate donations." The project manager also revealed that a mystery donor has offered a horse to the project team to raise funds and increase the profile of their task. "Someone has kindly offered us a racehorse. It will be called Stadium Project and will run in the Athlone Town colours. It's a French-bred horse and hopefully, as well as increasing the profile of our project, he might win a few bob for us as well! "In my mind the best thing about it is that the donor is adamant on maintaining his anonymity. It would reaffirm your faith in humanity wouldn't it?" Mr Burke thanked all the night's sponsors. The Corrib String Quartet were sponsored by the Prince of Wales and the tab for the Pre-Dinner punch reception was picked up by Midland Property Management Services. Dooley's Florist donated the roses and Damien Kilmartin, Kilmartin's Service Station, sponsored the champagne. Sponsors of raffle prizes were the Hodson Bay Hotel, Station House Hotel, Clifden, Athlone Travel World-Choice, the Creggan Court Hotel, Anthony Barry & Co Sols, and Kilmartin's N6 Service Station. Thanks were given to Timothy Hayes and his staff at the Hodson Bay Hotel. An auction of artwork by Jenny Stanley Sharkey and sculpted bog oak took place after the dinner. Figures of €850, €650, €475 and €400 were reached as Judge Groarke worked the gavel. Then, at the spectacularly late time of 2am, the Showband Show clicked into gear. For some, the night was but a pup...