LIONS "Movie Nights" a Roaring Success!.

25, 26 & 27 Mar, 2004: With a reprise of the acclaimed musical show " A Night at the Movies", "Another Night….." has proved even more popular and even more beneficial for the Kinsale Lions Club charities and the R.N.L.I.

Kinsale Lions Club member, Billy Crosbie produced, and Derek Davis (R.T.E.) directed the show, "Another Night at the Movies", which, due to demand, this year ran for three nights to completely full houses at Actons Hotel, Kinsale.

It is expected that € 40,000 will be raised for Lions local charities and the Lifeboats this time, amounting to € 113,000 over the last four years! This year's cheque for €12,000 is warmly appreciated by the enthusiastic, totally voluntary, young team at the Lifeboats, who now seek a permanent station in the harbour. These Crosbie - inspired shows have produced, via the patrons and sponsors, € 35,000 for the R.N.L.I. alone.

The Lions have also combined with the R.N.L.I. to run the Old Head Golf Classic in November each year, resulting in another € 38,000 going to the R.N.L.I. - a worthwhile partnership indeed, which has provided € 73,000 so far, to the cause of Kinsale Lifeboats.

But, apart from the magnificent amounts gained by the Charities, the audiences have enjoyed a dinner and show, unsurpassed in Kinsale. They have raved about the performances of Kathy Nugent, Jimmy O'Byrne, Ronnie Costley and Susan Crosbie, who led the professional expertise in the all - singing, all - action presentation. Billy's own band of Mick Lynch, George Hart and Derry O'Flynn, his son Mark Crosbie and Kathy's daughter, Amy, filled the show to capacity with musical talent. Derek Davis was supreme as narrator, (and sometime Elvis impersonator!), and was the commanding link figure.

There were no quiet moments in the Evenings, but during the intervals, the Auction was skillfully conducted by Victor Sullivan and Derek Davis. Kinsale's Rampart Players donned their garb to entertain the diners as famous film stars, and Derek Simon produced a riveting video depiction of the on-going show. But who was it, playing Al Jolson?

Kinsale Lions Club and Kinsale RNLI thank Billy and his Family, the wonderful Sponsors, particularly The Irish Examiner and Actons Hotel, Donors of Auction and Raffle prizes, the Artists and all Entertainers, Technicians, Voluntary Helpers, the Lions Teams, and, of course, the Patrons and Bidders who, once again, made an staggering success of the Show, to the benefit of the local community.