PROGRESS on the restoration of St. Mary’s Church in Derrybeg took another positive step on Thursday, as a well-attended coffee morning raised an impressive €2,445 in support of the ongoing campaign.

The event held at CI Tobar in the Gaoth Dobhair Business Park, brought the community together once again to contribute to the restoration. Adding to the occasion were special guests Dáire Ó Baoill and Jason McGee, both well-known county players. The pair brought the famous Anglo Celt Cup with them.

St. Mary’s Church was left devastated by a fire that broke out in the early hours of Easter Monday, April 21.

The blaze which prompted a large-scale emergency response involving fire crews from Gaoth Dobhair, Dungloe, Falcarragh, Glenties, and Letterkenny, caused extensive damage to the historic building.

In the wake of the tragedy the local and wider community has responded with overwhelming generosity.

An online fundraiser has surpassed €140,000, while a charity concert headlined by Daniel O’Donnell in Crolly added a further €11,000 to the rebuilding fund.

Thursday’s coffee morning is the latest in a growing list of fundraising efforts which have taken place not only across Donegal but also among the diaspora worldwide.