She didn't have a horse. She didn't have rings on her fingers. She didn't have bells on her toes. But she caused as much stir as the original Lady Godiva who rode naked through the streets of Coventry in the eleventh century to help its over-taxed citizens. Godiva succeeded in her mission to help the oppressed.

Ten centuries later a modern-day Irish Godiva took it upon herself to raise funds for the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami, not riding nude but walking naked, for two whole miles, while onlookers could make their donations as she passed.

Marie Boyle from Bunbeg, in the County of Donegal, struck upon the novel fund-raising event which, to say the least, attracted widespread attention.

When she announced her intention, unbelievers couldn't believe their ears. When she carried out her walk, believers couldn't believe their eyes.

Walking naked on a cold January day in Donegal is not something to be undertaken lightly, but Maire braved the elements. Accompanied only by her pet canine, a four-year old Pomeranian, she said afterwards that bystanders and onlookers were very generous with their donations.

And she revealed that two weeks earlier, in preparation for the event, she had renewed her dog licence, and at the same time changed its name from Breezer to Naked.

"Struth and she did", and walked him the full two miles!

Lest it be assumed that reading the above depicts a jocose attitude to the plight of the tsunami victims, let it be at once asserted that the people of Donegal, officially ranked the poorest county in Ireland, have contributed more per capita to tsunami relief funds than any place else in the country, north, south, east, or west.

According to the latest report from CPA, the national Combat Poverty Agency, Donegal has a relative poverty rate 60% higher than the national average, while Mayo, Leitrim, and Longford each have a relative poverty rate 40% above average.

One finding of a study commissioned by the agency stated the obvious, that one of the causes of poverty was "unemployment". Wow! Unemployment causes poverty! Factory closings have been taking place all over the county for months on end. Until the county has a voice that commands attention, the aid its charitable people give to unfortunates in other countries will not be reciprocated by an uncaring government in its own land.

Meanwhile, in a more long-term effort to assist tsunami victims, an Irish company, Alltech Incorporated, headquartered in Dunboyne, Co. Meath, has drawn up plans with the aid of local charities to build a fleet of forty fishing boats for villagers in two Thai villages devastated by the disaster.

Alltech, founded by Dundalk-born Dr. Pearse Lyons in 1980, is a world leader in animal health products derived from natural resources. Its 1,400 employees have already contributed 300,000 to the project by volunteering a day's salary.

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