DUBLIN, March 19, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The PaddyPowerPoker.com Poker for the Homeless March Madness II weekendheld at Dublin's Jackpot Club from March 12 to 14, 2010 has raised close toEUR20,000 for Brother Kevin and the Capuchin Day Centre.

Numbers for the Friday night EUR100 freezeout rose this year to 97 (from93 in 2009) while Sunday saw a strong turnout of 104 players (26 teams) forthe team event.

Ambassador for the fundraising festival, Padraig Parkinson, said, "We'llprobably double last year's total of EUR10,000 which, in the current economicclimate, shows that Irish poker players have real heart. Thanks to everyonewho played, worked at, supported, and donated to the fundraising effort. Withsome donations still to come in, we're confident we'll hit around EUR20,000for the weekend and will publish the accounts online just after the IrishOpen."

Brother Kevin Crowley, whose Capuchin Day Centre which feeds Dublin'shomeless population, attended the event on Friday night and thanked everyonefor supporting the festival, saying, "We have a certain amount of people whocome through here [Capuchin Day Centre] who are on the down through gambling,drink, and drugs. I don't for a moment condone gambling but this comes fromthe heart."

Celebrities who attended the event included former snooker world championKen Doherty, Leinster rugby coach Reggie Corrigan and boxers Jim Rock andMichael Carruth. The event was filmed for future TV broadcast by WinmediaIreland.

Before March Madness II, the total raised so far through Poker for theHomeless was EUR166,092.

        The winners of the weekend's events were:    Friday Mar. 12 - EUR100 Freezeout    1: Robert Scott - Irish Open Main Event Ticket    2: Noel McMahon - EUR1,700    3: Daniel Perez - EUR775    4: Denis O Kane - EUR600    5: Mick Stephens - EUR450    6: Andrew Dooley - EUR350    7: Frank Callaghan - EUR225    8: James Waldron - EUR200    9.:Peter Gwaizdowski - EUR160    Sunday Mar. 14 - Team Event EUR440    1: Damos Donkeys - EUR3,500    2: Voodoo - EUR2,000    3: Bruce Poker - EUR1,000    Individual Results    1: Ken Ralph - EUR1,100    2: Nic O'Hara - EUR750    3: Robert Scott - EUR600    4: Marie Smith - EUR500    5: Colette Murphy - EUR400    6: John Cormack - EUR300    7: Paddy Kelly - EUR200    8: Connor O'Brien - EUR150    9: Tye - EUR150    10: Frances McCormack - EUR150

For further information please contactbrendan.murray@pokermediaconsulting.com +35-386-305-7469