The family of a dedicated and constant fundraiser are planning yet another ‘Big Breakfast’ to support three charities close to their hearts.
Newtownhamilton’s McNiece family were undoubtedly “raised well”. The late matriarch of the family, Nessie McNiece was a champion fundraiser, always on the lookout for ways to raise a few pounds for worthy causes.
Her granddaughter, Serena, told Armagh I Nessie was always doing coffee mornings, walks in Gosford Forest Park, various plays and even a massive steak night that “took a lot of work” and, as the oldest grandchild, Serena was “pulled into everything”.
But that ethos of giving back to organisations that need it stuck with Serena and her entire family.
And, a big family it is too! Serena said Nessie and her husband, Leslie had a total of 10 children and they went on to give them 29 grandchildren…. all of whom now follow in their grandparents’ footsteps for charity.
In 2023, they held a mammoth ‘Big Breakfast’ charity event in Hillview Park, the home of Tullyvallen Football Club in Newtownhamilton. It was held in honour of both Nessie and Serena’s beloved father, Robert McNiece who had sadly passed away following a devastatingly short battle with cancer in 2021.
A full cooked breakfast was served to a whopping 600 people from the local community, many of whom turned out that year in fond memory of Robert.
The queues outside the Tullyvallen clubhouse for the last Big Breakfast
It was a response that overwhelmed the family. They had ambitiously planned to cater for around 400 people and Serena said they had to perform a mad “dash out to the shops” to bring in supplies.
She laughed: “The whole town, Keady, Markethill and everywhere was read out because we had to go for emergency food!”
But they rallied and they made it work! A final count from the day revealed more than £16,000 had been raised, which was then split equally between Marie Curie and Southern Area Hospice.
And while the McNiece family take care of all the preparation, cooking and serving, Serena was also keen to champion the generosity of those around them, adding: “To be honest we wouldn’t be able to do any of it if it wasn’t for the community around us.
“Local businesses around us have helped us with discounts on stuff when we are buying it, donations of stuff, we couldn’t do it without the community help as well. It’s a huge thing!”
Handing over their cheques to Marie Curie and Southern Area Hospice
This month, the family are once again donning their aprons and picking up their spatulas to raise money for three causes that have each played a huge part in their lives. Their 2026 event will also be held in memory of their beloved grandfather, Nessie’s husband Leslie.
Serena explained: “We are going for the Air Ambulance; my husband was airlifted in 2023 by them. We nearly lost him at the time so it’s very, very important to us.
“My wee nephew was very sick in the Royal Victoria Hospital with kidney problems and was on dialysis and that’s where the Children’s Kidney Fund comes in.
“There’s been a couple of breast cancer scares within the family but mostly with one of my aunts and she had seen huge benefits from the Pretty in Pink charity.
“So we want to split the amount raised equally between all three of the charities.”
The family would be delighted to serve another 500 hungry mouths this year and this is the number they are provisionally catering for.
On Saturday March 28, from 7.30am until 12 noon, the family hope to see the grounds of Tullyvallen full to bursting with Big Breakfasters!
Everyone is welcome and their is no need to book a space.
They will also be providing takeaway options for those needing to grab and go and are happy to take orders in advance.
