Some nine ambassadors to Ireland teed off with leading businessmen at Waterville golf course yesterday in aid of the Cill Rialaig artists' project at Bolus Head in south Kerry.
The golf classic (€5,000 per team of four) in aid of the continuing restoration of the pre-Famine village as an artists' retreat was followed by a gala dinner at Waterville Lake Hotel.
While dinner was included for the 44 golfers, up to 100 more guests paid €150 for the dinner and entertainment by the Sopranos singers. Ms Noelle Campbell-Sharp, who has been involved with the project from the start, said there had been 16,000 applications from Irish and foreign artists for a place in the retreat. More than 850 artists have stayed in the centre.
The artists, who include writers, poets, musicians and painters, are housed free of charge. In return they are asked to perform or donate a work which is then sold at the Cill Rialaig shop in nearby Dun Geagan. The project aims to raise a further €55,000 to complete its final phase.