Irish Harp supports community, including Gatta Get ‘Em on the Mat

Kekoo Gatta was a man dedicated to his family and his community, always wanting to give back and help others, including hundreds of young athletes.

Shortly before he died suddenly last September in tragic circumstances, his family had created Gatta Get ‘Em on the Mat fund to help promising young wrestlers on the Brock Jr. Badgers team with financial support, said his daughter Farratina, one of five siblings in a very close-knit family. Kekoo had been a successful wrestler in his youth, with the help of a high school coach who took him under his wing, she explained, and he wanted to ensure other young wrestlers would have the same opportunities he had.

Establishing the fund “was something we did for him for his 60th birthday,” she said. “Sadly he didn’t see it come to fruition, but we’re happy we were able to continue it for him.”

To help promising young wrestlers on the Brock Jr. Badgers team with financial support, which was so important to Kekoo, Jovie Joki, owner of the Irish Harp, held a fundraiser in December to contribute to it.

She has come to know, admire and respect the Gatta family, she explained. “Farrantina’s boyfriend, Colin Wilson, plays here regularly, and the family would come to see him."

Getting to know them and seeing Kekoo's passion for helping others led to her decision to support the program that means so much to him, Jovi said.

Throughout the month of December, she collected donations for the fund, and was able to raise $2,560. The Irish Harp matched the amount and this week she donated $5,120 to support youth in the wrestling program at Brock.

Joki too is passionate about supporting the community. When the Irish Harp was established by her partner, Trevor Smyth, he believed in the importance of giving back, she said. He died in 2013, and she “continues in that spirit,” taking on some new initiatives, as well as those the pub supported in its early days.

“The locals support us,” she said, “and we want to support them as well.”

When Smyth came to Niagara-on-the-Lake from Ireland, he quickly became friends with Ward Simpson, who was on the board of Red Roof Retreat then, and still is. Smyth immediately offered his support, and that continues to be an ongoing fundraiser throughout the year for The Irish Harp. The events help to raise both awareness and funds for the organization, said Joki.

The pub offers a steady schedule of entertainment, with something going on every night throughout the week, which helps to fill it, helping to raise awareness for the pub as well and making it possible to be generous in return to the community.