Emma and Grace perform fund-raiser for ‘coolest and cutest’ friend Michael
‘A FRIEND in need is a friend indeed’ is the saying two talented musician sisters are to follow this week as they strive to raise money for one of their best friends.
Young trad musicians Emma Ní hIfearnáin (12) and sister, Grace (10), are going all out with two outdoor busking events this week to help their Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail schoolmate Michael Beasley (8) access vital equipment.
Michael was recently diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, a condition which affects the lungs and requires the assistance of oxygen, which Michael carries around all day in a special backpack.
“But the oxygen tank is quite heavy, so we’re going to be playing music to raise money so that Michael can get a smaller oxygen tank that will be easier to carry,” Emma told The Kerryman.
Flautist Emma and concertina player Grace will perform two great gigs this week, which they hope everyone will support: one in Listowel and one in Ballybunion.
The sisters, both members of the Ballydonoghue Comhaltas branch, will start their fund-raiser, ‘Music for Michael’, at Garvey’s Supervalu in Listowel on Thursday, July 26, from 11am until 1pm. And the following day, Friday 27, the musical duo will be playing outside the Supervalu in Ballybunion from 12pm until 2pm.
The fund-raiser was entirely the girls’ idea, for a friend Emma describes as ‘ the cutest’ boy in the Gaelscoil’, with Grace delivering a no less unequivocal judgement, saying Michael is the ‘coolest’ kid in the school in her eyes.
They will be playing trad music with their friends from the Ballydonoghue/ Lisselton CCÉ, Ballylongford CCÉ, Listowel CCÉ, Lixnaw
CCÉ and Ballybunion CCÉ branches.
Emma and Grace thank Michael and his mom, Lisa; their fellow musicians; Terry and Mary Dunne of Flanagan’s Bar, Listowel; Paul O’Connor of Supervalu, Listowel; Cormac and Elaine Cahill of Supervalu, Ballybunion; and Kerry CCÉ PRO John Stack for their help in making it all possible.