Bidders invited to go potty for celeb’s creations

WHILE a garden designed by Diarmuid Gavin is out of many people’s price range, a piece of pottery painted by the celebrity gardener is one of many that have gone under the hammer to raise funds for meningitis research.

To mark World Meningitis Day, the Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) is holding an online pottery auction featuring painted works by celebrities including Claire Byrne, Miriam O’Callaghan, Lorraine Keane and the Irish rugby and soccer teams.

Pieces include a plate depicting broadcaster Sean Moncrieff’s take on the Japanese flag, a dinosaur money box by Irish soccer team assistant manager Marco Tardelli and a rocket painted by Today FM presenter Ian Dempsey illustrating the David Bowie song, Space Oddity.

The auction opened yesterday and continues until April 26, with each piece starting at €100. The highest overall bidder will be treated to a VIP lesson on the potter’s wheel at the Artworks Pottery Studio accompanied by champagne and chocolates.

MRF medical information officer Clodagh Hegarty said each of the celebrities were given free reign for their designs. “They each picked out what they wanted to paint and they were totally free to design what they wanted — we didn’t know what to expect but we are absolutely delighted with the efforts that were made. We are hoping that the auction will also raise awareness of meningitis which affects between 200 and 300 people in Ireland every year, killing 10% of these and leaving a further 25% with amputations, deafness or serious psychological problems.”

The MRF also encourages people to download their free text SMS video explaining the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia. Text Time to 50308.

* .meningitis.org/auction.