Griffith College hosts fundraiser 'InsideOut' in aid of Friends of the Coombe

Interior Design expert Dermot Bannon with Gwen Kenny and Cathy Kelly

We welcomed Ireland’s favourite household names to the fundraiser

Griffith College hosted some of Ireland’s top home and garden designers for InsideOut, a two-day virtual celebration fundraiser in aid of charity Friends of the Coombe.

Created and curated by one of Griffith’s Interior Design lecturers, Gwen Kenny, the event aims to raise €50,000 for Friends of the Coombe charity. Gwen, who runs her own Interior Design company, Divine Design, developed the event with friend and colour consultant Adele Roche, in association with SONAS Bathrooms and retailer, Albany.

What the funds raised will do

The charity focuses on raising much needed funds for the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital in Dublin 8. The money raised will be used to purchase two transport ventilators and monitors needed for moving premature or unwell babies from the delivery room or operating theatre to the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. The purchase of this machinery will have a huge impact on the hospital.

Well-known guests

Despite Covid-19 preventing Gwen from running a physical event as originally planned, the online version has been a huge success. Featuring interviews with leading names in the world of homes and gardens including Room to Improves’ Dermot Bannon, award-winning architect and television personality Hugh Wallace and bestselling author Cathy Kelly and more. The weekend also included exclusive tours of spectacular homes, castles and gardens, home and garden masterclasses, cookery demonstrations and even an auction, all of which will be made available to watch on the event’s Facebook and Instagram pages.  

We would like to say a huge congratulations to Gwen and everyone else that made the weekend happen. Griffith’s Head of Design, Deirdre Doherty, said “Arranging an event like this, with so many player, is no mean feat. The willingness of so many to be involved is testament to Gwen and we couldn’t be prouder of what she’s achieved!”

What you can do

Donations of €4 can be made by texting COOMBE to 50300, via the events Facebook page or directly through the Friends of the Coombe charity website here. The events online art auction will also be running for the next few weeks with all proceeds going to Friends of the Coombe.

To learn more, visit the InsideOut Home Show.

Friends of the Coombe