He’s rather perhaps the very best understood barman in Northern Ireland – Willie Gregg from Portrush’s Harbour Bar.
Having raised 10 of countless pounds for numerous charities including his own Willie’s Orphan Fund, the host-with-the-most is ‘pawsing’ pulling pints to stage what he hopes will be the greatest event of man’s friend that Northern Ireland has actually ever seen – and he’s doing it in memory of his cherished mom Joan.
Wee Joan’s Dog Walk will happen in Portrush on Sunday, September 17, and will raise funds for 10 various regional charities. The ‘doggie dander’ will begin from the Harbour in Portrush and make its method to the Blackrocks and back by means of the West Strand Promenade.
Willie’s late mom Joan was the motivation for the walk, informing her kid that, along with supporting charities all over the world, he ought to arrange something closer to home.
“And she was ideal!” concurred Willie who was all set to run a charity dog occasion when Covid hit which indicated the cancellation of the very first scheduled occasion. “Then my two Queens passed away,” said Willie, describing the death of his mom and after that Queen Elizabeth II.
“So now I am prepared to place on Wee Joan’s Dog Walk this year and I am confident that it will end up being a substantial occasion every year. The Portrush Raft Race actually begins the summertime season in the town and I would enjoy Wee Joan’s Dog Walk to end up being the closing summer season occasion in the town.”
For a £10 entry cost (that includes entry into a reward tally), owners and their pooches can delight in a walk on the beautiful north coast AND be evaluated for many rewards on the day consisting of Best Dressed Leopard Print Dog and Owner – a really particular classification influenced by ‘Wee Joan’ who liked her leopard print design. “Mum would have put Bet Lynch to embarassment, if she might have had a leopard print tooth brush, she would have had it!” said Willie.
The walk will begin at 2pm and is being sponsored by the Ramore complex, Guinness, Lamont Trailers, Zing, Mini So, Exorna Kitchens, Solid Surface, Gerni, Northbrook Commercials, Coastal Self Drive and Jollyes. Registration will happen on the day or anybody interested can sign up ahead of time at the Harbour Bar, Portrush; Portrush Yacht Club and Jollyes, Coleraine.
All money raised will go towards the following 10 charities/groups: Willie’s Orphan Fund (regional job Coleraine); NI Children to Lapland and Days to Remember; Portrush Football Club Youths U12 Girls; Marathon Man Paul Esler (Marie Curie Ballymoney); Women’s Aid (Coleraine); The Hummingbird Project (Portstewart); Angel of Hope Memorial Garden (Coleraine), Victoria Lagan Dance and Drama (Portrush); Marathon Ironman Andy Farrer (Suicide Awareness); TK Surf Portrush for the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Belfast.
Well understood for inviting dogs into the Harbour Bar in addition to human consumers, Willie is wishing to make this Northern Ireland’s greatest charity dog walk: “I just want to keep my promise to my mum and I hope Mother Nature will be kind”.
