There were scenes reminiscent of Disney’s ‘Up’ in Aughakillymaude earlier this month when they launched 1,300 balloons into the air as part of a fundraising drive for charity, and ever since then the excitement of the event has been growing and growing. 

 

Having hosted a similar event some years ago when their special helium-filled balloons, which were attached with identity cards and instructions for those who found them, drifted as far as Scotland, the Aughakillymaude Community Association were hoping once again would travel across the Irish Sea. 

 

Not in their wildest dreams did they expect what happened next, said Brian McManus from the community association. 

 

“The balloons drifted off in a north easterly direction and the first ones came down in the next field and townlands,” said Mr McManus, who said they balloons were launched by Brian Gunn, who had come up the idea, and Jolene Coyle, mother of Tilly Rose who uses the facilities at Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children the event was raising funds for. 

 

“Then, we got some back from Dromore and Aughnacloy, and then ones started to come back from Scotland, England and the Isle of Man.”

 

After that things began to get interesting: “The first contact we made from the continent was from a man near Zurich in Switzerland, who sent a Facebook message on Monday, just over 24 hours after the release. Since then we’ve got so many lovely letters back.”

 

Explaining how each balloon was tagged with instructions on how to return it, and with an identity number, he said so far they had received around 30 back from countries as far away as France, Belgium, Italy, Germany, and many from Switzerland. The balloons have travelled almost 800 miles so far, and they are expecting even more to come back in the coming weeks. 

 

“There was one from village in Switzerland where the mayor had attached a lovely wee letter with it. They’re still coming in by the day. It’s amazing because we now have a network of friends being formed across Europe.”

 

Stating the local children where very excited by what was happening, and traffic to the association’s Facebook page was through the roof, Mr McManus explained each balloon had been purchased and those with the number matching the balloon that went the furthest would get a prize. 

 

“All the tags have to be posted back to be officially recorded. We have a closing date of October 8, which is our cut off point.”

 

Mr McManus concluded: “You hear a lot of horrible stories in the press these days, but something like this just lifts your heart.”