A reminder of Kildare concert for Syrian refugee medical aid

A fundraising concert in St Brigid's Cathedral Kildare on 13 October will feature the Gormanstown Choir as well as other musicians, to raise money for medicines and operating theatre space for the next mission to help Syrian refugees organised by Atlantic Humanitarian Relief (AHR), writes Brian Byrne.

Beginning on 28 October, the next mission will provide medical, paediatric, surgical and dental care, together with humanitarian aid, focused on refugee camps in Northern Jordan. Some 80 people take part in each twice-a-year mission, a mix of nurses, doctors, surgeons, dentists, pharmacists and humanitarian volunteers. Operated by AHR since 2010, the volunteers are from America, other parts of Europe and, increasingly in recent years, from Ireland. All volunteers are self-funded.

"Last year, between the October 2022 and May 2023 missions, we were able to raise locally just a shade under €17,000 towards our participation," says local doctor Brendan O'Shea, who has been part of County Kildare involvement in the missions along with nurse Corinna Hopkins, Margaret Lynott and Dorly O'Sullivan. "The programme of the upcoming 'Music for Medicine' concert is one of easy listening and making the most of the wonderful acoustics at St Brigid's." 

The performances will include choral, string and clarinet quartets, as well as Arthur Green, currently organist at Christchurch in Dublin. "There will be brief talks on the circumstances of Syrian refugees, and how the mission and the work of Atlantic Humanitarian Relief is carried out, together with a raffle," Brendan O'Shea adds, noting that there are currently 800,000 or more Syrian people in refugee camps in Jordan.

Details, ticket purchase or simply donations can all be found at Eventbrite — look for 'Music for Medicine'.

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