ANVIL AT REST CHEQUE PRESENTED TO AWARE

Some of the Anvil at Rest committee members with Frank Dillon (second from left) of Aware.

A cheque for €4,711.87 was presented to the Aware mental health charity last evening in McTernan's, writes Brian Byrne. The funds are the proceeds from the Anvil at Rest concert held at Pat Kelly's home in Bishop Rogan Park at the end of August. 

In advance of the handover, Pat explained the background to the name for the event, which reflected the blacksmithing heritage of his family, and particularly the memory of his late brother Ned, a blacksmith and master farrier.

Accepting the cheque, Frank Dillon, head of fundraising at Aware, thanked all involved and noted that the charity supported more than 40,000 people last year in Ireland. "We give all our services for free, and we give all our advice and all our information and everything for free," he said. "And it's because of events like this and because of people like you." 

He added that events such as Anvil at Rest also help to raise awareness of the charity's services. "It's about information. It's about education. It's about therapy, and it's about support. It's about listening without judgement. It's about sharing information about some of those times in your life when you just don't know, you can't explain your own feelings, and we reach out and we support."

Pat Kelly thanked fellow members of the committee which had organised the event — Canice Keane, Emma Keane, Deirdre Ward, and his wife Lorraine. He also paid tribute to the artists who agreed to perform: Lorraine Nolan, Arlene Bailey, Yvonne Ennis, John Kelly, Canice Keane, and writer Mark Smyth. He particularly commended the work of sound engineer Gordon Turner, who had spent the whole day setting up and managing the sound for the afternoon event, which was streamed live on Facebook to a large cohort of the worldwide Kilcullen diaspora.

"Lastly, there are people who supported from the background, such as Mary and Mick Masterson here in McTernan's, Lily O'Brien Chocolates, Donovan Print, John Berney from JOL, and Joanne Cowie who did an enormous amount of work in Scotland. And many others who donated, cash to our bagman on the day, Paul Dixon, and via the internet."

Presentations done, the evening continued with music from Pat Kelly and Canice Keane.  

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