Laois Trad Concert for Cathal set to boost charities
Spink Comhaltas raises thousands of euros for three charities
A big Laois trad concert held in memory of one of their young members has resulted in three charities getting funding boosts.
Spink Comhaltas organised a concert in memory of their 'dear friend', Cathal Clooney, earlier in 2024. They say Cathal was a talented musician and great friend to all up to the time of his death in April 2021, aged just15.
The ‘Concert for Cathal’ was held on March 2 in the Manor Hotel, Abbeyleix. Featuring contributions from across the community, the music was provided by Spink Comhaltas, other Laois Comhaltas musicians, as well as performers from other parts of the community.
The branch says fundraising was supported generously by a huge range across the community – there were too many contributors to mention, but one group who helped to raise €1,500 of the total were Cathal’s former school friends in Heywood Community School.
Willie, Anne Marie and Liam Clooney with Cathal’s grandparents Joe and Lil Clooney when they and Spink Comhaltas members presented cheques. Pic: Alf Harvey.
Pictured: Debra Ireland represented by Malachy and Patricia Fogarty are presented with a cheque for €5,000 by Willie, Anne Marie and Liam Clooney along with Spink CCE members Genevieve Bennett, Maeve Hartford, Una Aylward, Marianne Tierney, Lawrence Vesey, Finuala Weston and Mairead Gleeson. Pic: Alf Harvey
Representatives of each of the charities were present, and all of them spoke about the valuable services they provided, the importance of voluntary fund raising for their organisations, and how much they appreciated the donations raised. The presentations were made on September 7.
Speaking on behalf of the committee and members of Spink Comhaltas, Úna Aylward described how much Cathal was missed, and thanked the Clooney family for the privilege to raise money in memory of Cathal.
Cathal’s father, Willie, spoke on behalf of his family. Thanking all present, he said that over and above the money raised by the event, they appreciated the support of their local community over the last 3 years since they lost Cathal. He thanked the musicians and members of Spink Comhaltas for their support and shared some stories of Cathal’s love of music.
Pictured: The Jack & Jill Foundation represented by Mary Joe Guilfoyle are presented with a cheque for €8,500 by Willie, Anne Marie and Liam Clooney along with Spink CCE members Genevieve Bennett, Maeve Hartford, Una Aylward, Marianne Tierney, Lawrence Vesey, Finuala Weston and Mairead Gleeson. Pic: Alf Harvey
Spink Comhaltas is looking forward to welcoming existing and new musicians back at the start of October. With a very small number of spaces available after registration, there is a last opportunity for new members to join on Friday, September 13 between 6pm and 8pm in Scoil Mhuire, Abbeyleix.
Pictured: Make A Wish represented by Annabel Laffan are presented with a cheque for €5,000 by Willie, Anne Marie and Liam Clooney along with Spink CCE members Genevieve Bennett, Maeve Hartford, Una Aylward, Marianne Tierney and Lawrence Vesey. Pic: Alf Harvey
The Jack & Jill Foundation were presented with a cheque for €8,500 by Willie, Anne Marie and Liam Clooney pictured with Heywood teachers Mary Kehoe, Liz Kinahan and Miriam Dalton and student friends of Cathal, Vincent Kehoe and James O’Mahony
More information is available at www.spinkcomhaltas.ie