In 2017 the focus was on active fundraising to aim to raise money to repair the roof. The official fundraising campaign was launched in May 2017 by Mairead McGuinness MEP, and Prof Christine Casey of Trinity College Dublin in a well-attended event which received good coverage in the local media. There were generous contributions from home and abroad and over €7,000 was raised. The garden party was again held in Collon House supported by the Lourdes Brass Band from Drogheda and over €5,000 was raised.
In autumn 2017 there was support from a music event organised by Martin and Dorothy Alioth of KenDu Music, and from a lecture organised by Michael Reid and given by Prof Terence Dooley of Maynooth University on Irish “Big Houses”. In December 2017 there was a significant centenary commemoration of James Emerson VC, killed in action in 1917. This was a particularly memorable church service with colour parties from the Irish Defence Forces, the Inniskilling Regiment, the Royal British Legion and the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen. In addition to the organ played by Wendy Strahan and Revd Joyce Moore the music was enhanced by the trumpet playing of Gillian Shields and the pipes played by Vincent Murray