Auction stations: Bachelors up for grabs

FANCY getting your hands on the local garda, a GAA star, a top chef or a musician to sing sweet nothings in your ear?

Ladies in Cork will be handing over hard cash for their top choice of a selection of bachelors up for auction this weekend.

The line-up includes Garda Chris Brosnan of Clonakilty, aka PC Lovelinks; Rosscarbery GAA captain Seamus Hayes aka Goldenballs; and Love Chef Mark Skelley of Gossip Bistro in Rosscarbery.

Musician Andy Fay completes the line-up for the ladies looking for a romantic date.

They all go under the hammer at Dunowen House tomorrow night for a Women’s Little Christmas celebration with a twist.

The cheeky charity bash takes place in the former home of the late Noel Redding, who played with the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The property is an 18th century Georgian farmhouse in Ardfield.

Redding lived there for 30 years and was a regular visitor to live music venues in nearby Clonakilty.

The organisers, who run a family bistro in Rosscarbery, plan to lay on a sumptuous feast to treat the hardworking women of Cork.

“The aim of the event is to offer a well-deserved night to the women of Cork to celebrate their Christmas with a twist and at the same time raise money for a very worthy cause,” bistro co-owner Andrew Gatley said.

For business partner Mark Skelly the fundraiser in support of Air Ambulance Ireland strikes a personal note. His brother was airlifted to hospital after being injured in a surfing accident in Newquay, south Wales.

“Without the local air ambulance and the great service it provides, things could have turned out a lot worse for him and for our family,” Mark said.

After the hammer comes down on the brave bachelors, guests will have an opportunity to bid on a luxury weekend for six in the venue itself, which has been refurbished to suit the high-end and corporate lettings market, complete with en-suite bedrooms furn-ished with surround sound systems, four poster beds and jacuzzi baths.

A home-catered evening for six is also up for grabs, with a full four-course dinner served up by the organisers themselves.

And for any of the 60-plus guests looking to shift a few pounds after Christmas, a six-week weight-loss programme with a personal trainer is also up for grabs.

Though Women’s Little Christmas celebrations are in decline throughout much of Ireland, Cork remains dedicated to the date.

“It’s not something we were familiar with before we moved to west Cork, but we love this tradition and ultimately it’s a chance for women to kick back, relax and have a great night out,” Mark said.

* Tickets are €20. For more, contact Mark or Andrew on 023 88 31950 or email: [e-mail].