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Showing posts with label Big Hearts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Big Hearts. Show all posts

Wednesday, 27 December 2017

Stephen Foster theme for Maintain Hope concert

December 27, 2017 0 Comments
A reminder that the Maintain Hope concert on 17 January will be an eclectic mix of music, song, story and dance, writes Maintain Hope founder Gerry O'Donoghue.

The Camptown Singers, a choral group formed specially for the concert, will create a musical insight into the life and times of the American composer Stephen Foster by visiting, through song, the world of the American South portrayed in Gone with the Wind. The group, under its musical director Monica Martin, consists of Christy and Madge McDonald, Robert and Maeve Jordan, Eileen Doyle, Gertrude Coffey, Philomena Breslin, Maurice O'Mahony, Gese Mucke, Margaret Talbot and the talented Kelly brothers.

Leah O'Sullivan on the harp will combine with the vocal talents of Eve McMahon to demonstrate the variety of emerging talent in the area.

Singer-songwriter Roy Thompson will include his own compositions in his programme.

Sean Leahy and friends will provide a lively session of Irish Music and dance.

The lineup will also include Noel O'Grady, a multi award-winning singer including five times winner of Oireachtas na Gaeilge competition for traditional singing.

Brian Byrne, who has become the Keeper of Memories for Kilcullen, will contribute a nostalgic piece, and Dick Dunphy and Bernard Berney are immersed in rehearsal for a specially commissioned comedy sketch.

A pair of tickets for this event would make an ideal Christmas present. They're available now from Berneys Chemists.
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Monday, 27 November 2017

Thank you, Kilcullen, from Maintain Hope

November 27, 2017 0 Comments
The support of the people of Kilcullen and that of all our well-wishers is really paying dividends here in Ngong Kenya, writes Gerry O'Donoghue of Maintain Hope.

This family, which spans three generations, live in a 10'x10' corrugated iron house in Mathare Slum. We are supporting five children from this family through school and we also take care of their medical needs. A food donation once a month helps with the household budget.

This family really wants to stay together and despite their tough living conditions, they are very positive and a good education for the children is their top priority. Without our intervention, the only alternative would be to split up the family and place the youngest children in a residential home.

Having to give up your children to a home, and for the children to have to enter one, is viewed with the same dread and sorrow as Irish people once looked on the prospect of the Workhouse. There is a welcome move here in Kenya to supporting destitute children in their community rather than in the often unregulated Children�s Homes. Maintain Hope is taking a leading part in implementing this policy in Ngong.

So deep is the poverty sometimes, that parents present their children as orphans so that they at least receive some support. Through a network of Social Workers and community based organisations, we are able to keep families together and ensure that their vulnerable children are given a chance. We have established valuable links with the schools which our 40-odd children attend and we receive regular updates on their progress and achievements.

One of our 'old boys' from the earliest days of Maintain Hope, Julius Arega, spearheads our intervention in the Ngong area. Having been raised in a Children�s Home, he is determined to keep families together if at all possible. While, with our help, he graduated from college and has prospered, he believes that nothing can replace family life, even if that life is lived in very humble circumstances.

Our sincere thanks to everyone who supports our work. I wish that I could find the words to tell how much your help is appreciated here and how much of a difference it makes.
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Sunday, 26 November 2017

Eurospar presents cheque to scouts

November 26, 2017 0 Comments
A cheque for �500 was presented to the Kilcullen Scout Troop by Eurospar Kilcullen yesterday, writes Brian Byrne.

The Scouts were selected by the store to be their chosen charity partner this year, as a mark of appreciation to their contribution to the community.

Eurospar Kilcullen manager Derek Walsh presented the cheque, which was accepted on behalf of the Troop by Group Leader Michelle Hourihan.

"We were delighted to be asked to be the store's chosen local charity," says Stephen Biddulph. "This will go a long way towards our annual fund raising target."

The scheme is operated by Eurospar nationwide under the network's 'giving back' programme. Stores raise funds through various activities and events throughout the year and donation boxes are available in local stores. Also, every time a selected Spar own brand product is bought, the store makes a donation to its local charity partner.

(Pictures courtesy Stephen Biddulph.) 
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