Bumper receipts for charity fast before the feast

Wexford’s annual St Iberius Four Day fast has raised over €46,000 for charity, local priest Fr Aodhán Marken has said.

The fast, which since the late 1990s has been an ecumenical event held outside St Iberius’ Church, saw Fr Marken joining Church of Ireland Rev. Arthur Minion for four days during which the two clerics were sustained just by a cup of hot soup at 12.30pm each day, as well as tea, coffee, water and if necessary Bovril for salt or Lucozade for sugar.

The €46,000 will be divided between the Society of St Vincent de Paul, Ozanam House Men’s Shelter, Wexford Women’s Refuge, the South East Radiotherapy Trust, and other charities. All proceeds will go to frontline services.