Millstreet All Star concert for Anna’s Hope Foundation

MUSIC, song and dance filled Millstreet GAA Community Hall for a fund-raising traditional concert in aid of Rathcoole’s Anna Buckley in her upcoming volunteer work for the HOPE Foundation in India.

HOPE works with street and slum children in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), freeing children and poor families from lives of pain, abuse, poverty and darkness.

Anna is part of the Coláiste Treasa Transition Year HOPE Foundation Immersion Programme travelling to India during April to witness first-hand, the work of HOPE and the extremities of life in Kolkata.

Supported throughout their time in India, students are introduced to poverty, the realities of street children and the joy of HOPE.

During their week-long visit, Anna and colleagues will spend time visiting HOPE projects, interacting with children and adolescents who are in HOPE supported projects and immersing themselves in Indian culture.

The All Star Concert featured a diverse programme including the U15 All-Ireland winning Crossfields Band 2017; the All-Ireland winning Freemount Plearaca Group 2018; All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil Singers Ellemarie O’Dwyer and Katie O’Sullivan; All Ireland Scór na nÓg finalists Maggie Moynihan and Kilshannig Music group, in addition to dancing and story telling performers; Millstreet Ceolthas and dancers, Millstreet- Got-Talent winners and other performances in a memorable staging under the direction of Fear An Tí Dan Joe O’Keeffe.

“Hopefully, our visit to India can make the world a better place by caring for people who are less well off than themselves. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thanks the performers, sponsors and the public for their support”, said a delighted Anna.

Anna Buckley pictured with family Bridget, Pat, Patrick and Carolyn at the HOPE Foundation Fund Raising Concert in Millstreet.

Members of the winnng Freemount Plearaca Group performing at the traditional Concert in Millstreet. Picture John Tarrant

Anna Buckley performing in the Concert supporting her visit to India in aid of HOPE. Picture John Tarrant

Ronan Buckley performing on the Harp for the Freemount Plearaca Group at the Millstreet HOPE Concert. Picture John Tarrant

HOPE Volunteer Anna Buckley pictured with grandmother, Susan, aunts Esther and Mary and brother Patrick at the Concert in Millstreet. Picture John Tarrant

Rathcoole’s Diarmuid Cronin in the midst of telling a story at the HOPE Concert in Millstreet.