Big support for cathedral Music for Medicine
Those of us involved in the Music for Medicine fundraising concert for AHR held at the wonderful venue of Saint Brigid’s Cathedral in Kildare on Friday November 22nd last, writes Dr Brendan O'Shea, would like to thank the almost full house of people who attended, who actively participated and contributed so generously.
While the event was largely hosted by Gormanstown Chapel Choir (Director Dorly O’Sullivan), the programme was also supported by the wonderful scholarship and skills of Arthur Greene Organist, by The Dara String quartet, by the Consonance Clarinet Quartet, and by Elena Ryan, Viola.
As always, the event was supported by Dean Isobel Jackson and friends and colleagues at Saint Brigid’s Cathedral Kildare, who again made this wonderful venue available for the evening.
The programme included a mix of classical and easy listening, including works by Byrd, Faure and Bach, as well as a wide range of other composers and styles. The raffle at intermission was particularly well subscribed, enormous fun (thanks for many contributors of a wide variety of spot prizes), and in total c€4,600 has been raised to date, with late donations still coming in.
The event also included a focused photography exhibition, informed images taken by Mr Paul O'Rourke, while he was last on an AHR Mission, and which images also benefited from informal commentary by several other AHR volunteers who attended the concert.
There is clearly a limit to how much medical care can be provided by a modest voluntary agency such as AHR, but the concern and practical interest which we can share and communicate regarding the plight of Syrian people incarcerated in refugee camps in countries joining Syria is priceless. It directly addresses their sense of abandonment, and confirms our own solidarity with their circumstances, even as the tragedy engulfing the Middle East continues to unfold.
You can find out more about AHR at this link.
Images by Paul O'Rourke.
