Tipperary Water has joined forces with Concern to help fund water projects in Africa. Each time a specially branded bottle of Tipperary Natural Mineral Water is sold a donation will be made to “Water for Africa”.
Details of the inititive were announced at a lunch in the St. Stephen's Green Club on Monday afternoon, hosted by Pat Cooney, head of The Gleeson Group, who own Tipperary Natural Mineral Water.
“This unique project is essentially a group effort, involving a team of three”, said Mr. Cooney, “the consumer who buys the Tipperary Water, Concern who will be directly developing the water projects and ourselves”.
Initially, one of the countries which will benefit from this initiative is Eritrea, a country that has been seriously affected by drought in recent years. It is estimated that 85% of the Eritrean population are suffering severe water shortages, as rainfall has been scarce and erratic.
“In Ireland we have no such problems and are blessed with an abundance of good quality water”, continued Pat, “over the next 18 months I hope that sales of Tipperary Water will help provide clean water to communities in some of the poorest parts of Africa”.
It is estimated that each person in Ireland uses over 148 litres of water per day, while in some parts of Africa consumption can be as little at 10 litres.
Guest of honour at the lunch was His Excellency Mr. Negassi Sengal Ghebrezghi, the Eritrean Ambassador to the U.K. and Ireland, who expressed his appreciation for the campaign. Others present included Eithne Healy and Tom Arnold of Concern, writer Quentin Fottrell (who takes over the social diary in The Sunday Tribune from this weekend), RTE broadcaster Val Joyce and publicist Mary Crotty.
