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Garda anniversary celebrations to benefit Mayo charities By Tom Shiel and Tom Gillespie A gala concert to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Garda Síochána will be staged in the Travellers Friend Hotel, Castlebar on Friday night November 28. Topping the bill will be the Carter Twins, Sean Keane and friends, Matt Molloy, the Moy Singers, the Mayo Garda Talent Group, Garda Jim Walsh (Ballina), John Duggan and John Kelly. The compere for the evening will be top RTE radio personality Marian Finucane. All of the proceeds from the spectacular will be divided between Mayo Rehab and the Western Care Association. The doors open at 8pm and the show gets underway at 8.30pm Tickets, priced at £7.50 are available on the door and from the any of the Garda district headquarters at Castlebar., Ballina, Claremorris, Belmullet, Swinford and Westport, from any Garda Station and from members of Mayo Rehab and Western Care Association. The event is being organised by the Mayo Garda Division, the details of which were announced at a press conference in the Travellers Friend Hotel. Sean Keane, brother of Dolores, from Caherlistrane, has become a highly successful artist with his unique voice and haunting recordings. The Carter Twins are managed by Kiltimagh's Louis Walsh who has groomed Boyzone into an international success. The twins, Stephen and Tony, are currently on tour with Boyzone in the UK and will return to appear in pantomime in Dublin in December. Matt Molloy is a legend in his own lifetime. As a member of the Chieftains and a Westport publican he has left his mark in the entertainment world. Matt is a native of Ballaghadeereen and learned his early music from his father Jim who hailed from Ballymore, Co. Sligo. Headford born Jim Walsh joined the Gardai in 1964 and he has been singing and playing guitar for years. In 1967 he sang the Dick Farrelly entry 'Isle of Innishfree' in the Castlebar International Song Contest He composed and recorded the ballad "The men of 22" which marks the 75 anniversary of the founding of the force. Knock based John Kelly, is well known in the music business and has made many recordings. John has just returned from attending a major mayo function in Boston as well as engagements in New York and Chicago. The Moy Singers are a mixed S.A.T.B. choir of 40-45 members which was formed in Ballina in 1986. Members of the choir come from Ballina, Swinford, Foxford, Crossmolina, Killala, Enniscrone and Easkey. Last May the choir went to St. Raphael in the South of France and was invited by Prince Rainier to sing in Monaco. MWR's John Duggan, a former member of the force, is well known throughout the West of Ireland. A native of Co. Longford, John has written many highly successful songs which have been recorded by Brendan Shine, Foster and Allen and Hugo Duncan. The Mayo Garda Variety Group comprises of serving and retired members of the force. They came together in 1992 to enter the All-Ireland Garda Divisional Talent competition. And were adjudicated All-Ireland champions after defeating a group from Clare. The group consists of Dancers: Myra Berry, Mary Hanohoe, Eileen Corrigan, Sgt. Des O'Kelly (retired) and his wife Mary, Garda Brendan Coyne, Detective Garda Denis Gallagher and Garda John Daly. The concert will be produced by Garda Frank Herraghty, Castlebar who has just retired from the force. Frank is no stranger to the stage. He has taken part in and produced numerous shows over the West of Ireland. The press conference was chaired by Inspector Gerry Henry, Castlebar and was attended by representatives from all of the Garda divisions in Mayo. Chief Supt. John Carey said to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the force members agreed to mark the occasion in three ways. The first was an agreement by all members to contribute £1 per week for the entire year. This will raise in excess of £10,000 which will be divided equally between the Mayo Cat Scan Appeal fund; Mayo/Roscommon Hospice and North West Hospice. He added: "This is the final item in our programme of events to celebrate 75 years of service to the people of Mayo and we are looking forward to the support of the people of Mayo." Mr Kevin Bourke, Mayo Rehab said his organization was delighted to be the recipient of part of the proceeds from the concert. He said members of the force has been great supporters of Rehab down the years and he apprecieted their efforts. Mr Tom O'Dea, Western Care Association, said they too were pleased to have been chosen by the concert committee to benefot from the production. Introduction For more information take a look at An Garda Síochána in Mayo |
