Dungeon masters score critical hit in raising funds for Zambia project          

SCORING  a critical hit in their quest to raise funds for their school’s Zambia Immersion Project are a dynamic duo of Dungeon Master’s from Abbey Christian Brother’s school. 

Both Ronan Shiels and Matthew Donnelly, who in their capacity as members of the schools Dungeons and Dragons club  have orchestrated many  a long campaign of adventure  and excitement  , have raised £387.67 to  go directly towards the schools Zambia Immersion  Project. 

  Now in its 22nd year the eponymous  social justice scheme serves as a means by which pupils and staff at the school can   apply their Christian ethos by engaging in activities to improve the quality of life of the  residents of the village of Livingstone, with the project requiring as much funding as possible to ensure this mission is carried out effectively.  

However whilst some of their  colleagues at the Abbey Christian Brothers School may have engaged in more conventional means of fundraising such as bucket collections and bingo nights both Ronan and Matthew opted for a more esoteric means of endowment towards the project whenever they began to roll the dice at a D&D fundraising event held in the An Cuan centre Rostrevor.  

Rolling for Zambia

“We were planning to do this for the school Dungeons and Dragons club but then we decided if we are doing it for Zambia we might as well make it count and make a big event out of it.” said Ronan, “there has been a surprising amount of interest in Dungeons and Dragons”

Matthew explained how the interest in the table -top role playing game has grown so exponentially that there are now two clubs at the school, one for seniors and one for juniors.

“It has grown quite exponentially since we began, we went from about seven to eight people in the club two years ago and now we have two separate clubs.

“The fact that you can do absolutely anything is one of the best things about D and D in my opinion. In real life there are very few alternative ways to deal with matters but in Dungeons and Dragons you can do anything. There is no set or correct answer.”

Role Playing

For the uninitiated Ronan provided a brief descriptive of what a game of D&D entails explaining that at its core Dungeons and Dragons is an activity which enables you and your friends to share their imagination with one and other.

“You may want to hang out with your friends but you need something to do but rather than stroll around Newry all day or play  video games which can  get tiring. D&D  is a really fun way to share your imagination. It is a good way to have fun with your friends.  

“Dungeons and Dragons is a role-playing game where you and your friends  assume the roles of characters from your imagination and you cooperate and work together to come up with creative solutions to problems that your Dungeon Master, the person who is in charge of the game, would throw at you.

“It can take place on any scale you want. You can try to save the world from whatever threat you choose, aliens, a kraken, dragons or just something small such as your characters are in debt and they need to rob a bank or so forth. Everything we play is original.”  

Quest in Zambia

With Ronan having an  abundance of experience in forming a party of adventurers to journey to a far away land to engage in altruistic endeavours through the medium of Dungeons and Dragons, he is now more than equipped to overcome any challenges which may come his way  whenever he embarks on his  real life own quest to Zambia next year.

That and the £387.67 generated  by the fundraiser will work to help and his fellow party members succeed in any endeavours they undertake whilst playing through their upcoming Zambia Campaign.

 “At the event there was a really good turn out in the mid 20s and especially with a hurricane just they day before. With Storm Ann we were wondering if people were able to make it down to Rostrevor but  there was a great turn out.

“The reason why we chose  Zambia is because I am going to Zambia  on the school immersion project 2026 next March. From this event we have raised £387.67. 

“The Zambia Immersion project is always something that I assumed I would go for. When I was going to the school way back in P7 I thought this sounded really cool but it was a long way off and I just sort of went for it. I never really expected to be selected for the team but I went for it and here I am now.

“In Zambia we will be integrating and helping out in the local community. This will be some manual labour, helping out at the children's home, doing some teaching at the community schools and also helping out the Saint Francis Day Care Centre.”