Kent Stainless staff took to the pitch for the annual Mick Driscoll Memorial Cup, raising more than €200 for the local organisation

A Wexford mental health charity has thanked one of Wexford’s most established companies for holding a charity football match which saw the office staff take on the production floor team.

Last month, Kent Stainless held their annual Mick Driscoll Memorial Cup in memory of their late employee who died in 2015, raising just over €200 for ManUp, an organisation which was born out of tragedy.

The charity’s founders saw firsthand the devastating toll that silence and stigma can take on men’s mental health, and they decided it was time to create a space where men could talk openly about their struggles without fear of judgment.

“We’d particularly like to thank the family of the late Mick Driscoll for nominating ManUp to benefit from the fundraising held in his memory,” a spokesperson for the charity said. To have our work chosen by Mick’s family means a great deal to us, and we’re genuinely honoured and grateful for their support.

“Contributions like this help us continue the work we do, providing free peer-support groups, one-to-one support, community outreach and helping men access professional counselling where financial circumstances might otherwise be a barrier.”

They added that there is something particularly meaningful about the support of Kent Stainless, because a majority of their workforce are male.

“In a workplace with such a large male workforce, conversations around men’s mental health really matter. We spend a huge part of our lives alongside the people we work with, and sometimes a workmate can be the first person to notice that someone isn’t quite themselves.

“It doesn’t always take a big intervention. Sometimes it’s simply asking a colleague, ‘Are you alright?’ And being willing to listen to the answer.”

They extended their thanks to Mick’s family and everyone who took part in the match.

“Every contribution, big or small, helps us keep our supports accessible and continue building a community where men know they don’t have to face things alone.”

Kent said that in a first for the competition, the office team finally claimed the cup, coming out on top in 7 goals to 5 victory.

“As usual, there were some questionable tactics, along with plenty of good fun and friendly competition between both teams,” a spokesperson remarked.