40 UKULELES ROCK THE MORNING STAR IN AID OF LOCAL HOSPICE HOMECARE
IF the sound of 40 ukuleles playing Maniac 2000 doesn’t put you in a good mood, then nothing will!
This is how the final minutes of the hugely successful Ukulele Benefit Night in the Morning Star played out, and all proceeds for the event on Friday November 2nd were in aid of Drogheda Hospice Homecare, with an amazing €1,800 and counting pulled in.
“What can we say about last night, what a wonderful night of kindness, friendship and musical spirit,” said one of the organisers, local teacher Jenny Carolan. “We were absolutely blown away by the generosity of everyone who came and everyone who donated towards our fundraiser and raffle.”
Jenny’s mum Ann passed away in September 2015 after being diagnosed with breast cancer that year. Her close friend Marian McGinn died on the same day just a year later, having battled the same disease since 2013. Jenny’s brother Wayne is partner to local sportswoman Vikki McGinn, Marian’s daughter, who also helped organise the event.
“Ann and my mum were great friends and my mum used to nurse Wayne’s mum when she had cancer,” explains Vikki, who played at the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup for Ireland and is now a successful physiotherapist. “They had cancer at the same time, but when she became worse, and she needed a hospital bed and wheelchair, Cora Fagan from the Drogheda Hospice Homecare got whatever she needed in the blink of an eye.
“Then when our own mum was goingi throughhh chemoh iin DDublin, bli there were always drivers there to bring her. Cora is just a fantastic woman and we want to thank her and their amazing volunteers, the drivers, the cancer care nurses and the organisation as a whole for all they did for our families in those times of need.”
Some 100 people crammed into the Tullyallen pub to hear the Castlebellingham Ukulele Group, led by Jennifer Clarke, belt out hits from George Ezra, Beyonce and Pink.
“Jenny is in the band, and we were all so surprised when they started to play such modern music, there was a great atmosphere and lots of craic,” adds Vikki.
“We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who played their part especially our Ukulele players and musicians, as well as all those who donated prizes for the raffle, for what was only a fantastic night.”