Wednesday,14^th October 2009.  Bóthar, together with Coillte today launched  their "Mighty Oak Tree" initiative.  People are being asked to give the gift of trees to struggling families in the developing world this year and in return, Coillte, will supply a native oak tree for each donor, to be planted at Strokestown Park House and Famine Museum, Co. Roscommon. This initiative will form part of Bóthar's gift catalogue and their Christmas campaign.  

Pat McCarrick of Bóthar said "Little acorns grow to be great oaks and so it is with our work in the developing world. Through time, a struggling family can have a much fuller and stronger existence by benefiting from involvement in a Bóthar project. Bóthar are delighted with this collaboration with Coillte and no doubt it will build awareness at many levels about our aid programmes. This project is rich in symbolism and practical support. Our thanks also to Strokestown Park House & for making a site available for this new oak wood."

Speaking at the launch David Gunning of Coillte said "Our core purpose is about enriching lives locally, nationally and globally through the innovative management of natural resources and this partnership with Bóthar will be of benefit both in Africa and in Ireland.  We hope that communities in the developing world will benefit from this tree planting initiative for generations to come and we are very happy to co-operate with Bóthar on this initiative".  

Money raised through this project will be invested in the essential element of so many of Bóthar's farm animal programmes where trees are needed for shelter, food and prevention of erosion.

The trees will be planted on a plot specially created and managed at Strokestown Park House & Famine Museum, Co. Roscommon.

ENDS

Photographs will be available from : John Ryan Photography info@jrphoto.ie

For further information please contact:

 

Gráinne Hogan, Coillte Public Relations Executive,  grainne.hogan@coillte.ie; +353 (0) 1 2011178 or 086-8213147OrTom Byrne, Coillte Head of Corporate Communications Tom.Byrne@coillte.ie +353 (0) 1 2011111 or 086-8104224

Pat McCarrick, Bóthar, Fundraising Projects & Study Tours Directorpat@bothar.ie Phone: +353 (0) 719120100

Note to Editors.

 

 

Bóthar

Bóthar is an Irish Charity which works to enable families and communities worldwide to overcome hunger and poverty and to restore the environment in a sustainable way. To do this, Bothar specialises in improved livestock production and support related training and community development. Bóthar also educates the public in Ireland about global poverty

 

Coillte

Coillte is a commercial company operating in forestry, land based businesses, renewable energy and panel products.

The company employs approx 1,200 people and was established in 1988. It owns over 445,000 hectares of land, about 7% of the land cover of Ireland.

 

Strokestown Park House and Famine Museum
Strokestown Park House is an 18^th century mansion which has been faithfully restored. It is unique in that it retains its original furnishings and professionally guided tours allow visitors to browse freely through the stately surroundings. The Famine Museum uses a combination of original documents and images from the Strokestown Park collection to explain the circumstances of the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s. This collection boasts an extensive range of papers including actual letters written by the tenants on the Strokestown Estate at the time of the famine.