Jokes aside, Al Porter raises €5,300 for his old school
By Mary Dennehy
TODAY FM presenter Al Porter was sitting behind a very different kind of desk this week when he returned to his old school to help raise funds for a student trip to the Gaeltacht.
The 23-year-old comedian visited St Mark’s Community School in Springfield on Tuesday evening to stage a stand-up show in aid of the school’s Gaeltacht fund.
With Al performing for free, all proceeds from ticket sales and a bumper raffle went directly to the students’ trip – totalling an impressive €3,300.
The Tallaght comedian also made a personal donation of €1,500 and secured an additional €500 from Taylor’s Tree Rock and fellow comedian Noel V Ginnity, which resulted in the night raising €5,300 in total.
Al’s old economics teacher Janice Martin told The Echo: “It was amazing, Al put on an 80-minute show, which lifted the roof off the school.
“We had a sell-out crowd of 250 parents, staff and friends, and everyone had a great night.”
She added: “Al met with all of his old teachers and, alongside giving us a bit of stick, he spoke very eloquently about the Gaeltacht and how important it is for students both in terms of the Irish language and experience.
“He spoke of the valuable experience of making friends, bonds and relationships, as well as the academic and cultural importance of visiting the Gaeltacht.”
On the night, Al was presented with a gift of personalised cuff links and collar stiffeners, which were donated to the school by Gray’s jewellers on Grafton Street.
Al’s parents, who also attended the show, were gifted with flowers and a framed poster of the show.
Ms Martin said: “Al was a great student – he took his work so seriously and was a true gentleman.
“We are all so proud of him here and all of the kids look up to him. He really is an inspiration.
“He makes the kids feel that they can do anything.”
She added: “He’s such a great role model for kids from the area and he keeps dropping back into the school.
“He’s so proud of his area and has never forgotten where he’s come from.”
The St Mark’s Gaeltacht fund is now at €7,500 after proceeds from the night were added to money fundraised through cake sales, a table quiz and a €1,250 cheque from Bank of Ireland Direct in Tallaght.
The school community also wished to thank Gray’s jewellers and restaurants Saba and the Salmon Leap for donating generous raffle prizes on the night.