Macra’s Dublin office has been collecting all unsold copies of its positive mental health calendar around the country following a decision by its National Council last Saturday to stop the fundraising campaign.

“It was a controversy. Rather than backfoot selling, it was better to stop sales of the calendar,” Macra’s chief executive Edmond Connolly told the Irish Farmers Journal.

Members directed public criticism at their organisation when it emerged that the proceeds from the €10 calendars were only partially going to the Walk In My Shoes campaign of St Patrick’s Mental Health Foundation. Macra originally kept the funds from the copies it sold itself, while the profit from those sold through St Patrick’s were split between the two organisations.

In response to the controversy, Macra decided earlier this month to split all proceeds evenly with St Patrick’s.

However, this has not proven to be enough to restore confidence in the campaign and Macra’s executive council decided to bring it to an early end.

According to Macra, the bulk of calendars were sold at the National Ploughing Championships and upfront printing costs were well covered. A final tally following the recall of all remaining calendars will reveal how much was raised, with a substantial donation still expected to be made to St Patrick’s and a small return planned for Macra.