Help make Tiny Dancer no 1 for Lily Mae Fund

 

The Sunni Mae Trust

The Sunni Mae Trust has been founded to help a little girl Lily Mae Morrison who has stage 4 Neuroblastoma. This is a rare form of cancer that effects 1 in 100,000 children in Ireland.

 

TINY DANCER CHARITY SINGLE
The song is Elton John’s ‘Tiny Dancer’ sung by a choir of 250 made up of people from all over Ireland plus Paddy Casey, Declan O’Rourke, Mary Black, The Reverse, Rob Vickers, Shane O’Reilly (Bipolar Empire), Mal Touhy (The Riptide Movement), Mundy, Matthew Devereux & Shane Wearan (The Pale), John Spillane, Brian Hogan (Kila & Preacher’s Son), Mickey Joe Harte, Naymedici, Tom Dunne (Something Happens), Aoife Scott, Laura Sheeran (Nanu Nanu), Camille O’Sullivan, and a very special guest singer, Lily-Mae’s father, Leighton Morrison. The single is available from iTunes and in CD and Record Stores nationwide. Let's make it No 1 for Christmas!

 

 

http://youtu.be/ofH4Qi_eCPU

Watch video clip of Lily Mae.

 

 With Paul Hayes, uncle of Lily Mae, and head of the Sunni Mae Trust at Leinster House.
You can visit the website on
http://www.thesunnimaetrust.ie/

 

Another Christmas Morn: St Joseph's NS Dundalk

Huge congratulations to St Joseph's NS Avenue Rd Dundalk who have released Another Christmas Morn, composed by Liam Reilly.

'Another Christmas Morn' was originally recorded in 1990, after St. Joseph's School choir director, Muirne O'Hanlon Lawlor, approached local singer/songwriter Liam Reilly to compose a Christmas song for her choir.

The talented Dundalk singer readily agreed, and a professional recording of the song was made, which has been heard throughout the hallowed halls of the school every year since, and even became famous on local airwaves with LMFM's Ray Stone playing it in the run up to each Christmas.

Principal Marcella O Conluain explained that at the beginning of 2012, the school considered having it re-recorded.

'It is a fabulous song and loved by everyone who hears it and many people are moved to tears by its sentiments. It particularly appeals to those who are not living at home at Christmas time, as it reminds them of home and family,' said Marcella.

The choir director explained: 'We began talking about recording the song again, with the current choir, and after approaching Liam Reilly again were delighted that he was happy to do it, and even sang vocals himself on this new version.'

With excited students bussed to Jealoustown Studios in Meath for the recording, the song came together with new voices and sounds to give it a 2012 feel. A video recording was also made of their journey.

'It was an incredible experience for the kids, and for me a really emotional trip back in time, as I thought so much of all that has changed since 1990,' said Mrs. O'Hanlon Lawlor. ' Many of that original choir, who are adults now, still tell us how they have kept the cassette recording of the song, and how it brings back memories of their time here in St. Joseph's.'

 

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SafeIreland launch ManUp campaign on Domestic Violence

 

 

 

 

Most men celebrate and respect women – they don’t control them. Good men protect and care for children. Today men are proudly standing up and declaring zero tolerance on domestic violence of any kind. It’s time to help make Ireland the safest place for women and children.

Man UP is an inspiring, brave new campaign launched by SafeIreland  to change the face of domestic violence.

You can support this campaign and help spread awareness that challenges the perverse and warped justifications that some men have for abusing women and children.
Watch these video clips

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Uk8UVJdTL2o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DUKsHL-VBf0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=e64Um5WC_FI


If you are concerned by this issue check out the safeireland.ie website for help and information.

Polar Plunge in the Forty Foot for Special Olympics

 

 

On Saturday 1^st December I will be taking the plunge for Special Olympics Ireland in their Polar Plunge fundraiser at The Forty Foot, Sandycove, Dublin.

I would be very grateful for any support in the line of sponsorship, or indeed moral support from anyone who would like to join me in taking the plunge.

Registration starts at 11:15am and we aim to take THE PLUNGE at 12 noon.

 

Please contact me if you can help out with some sponsorship.

 

 

 

 

Application for funding for The Gathering

If your group is planning to apply for funding under The Gathering Ireland Local Community Fund, the closing date for completed applications is this Friday 30^th November 2012 at 4pm. All forms should be delivered to County Hall Dundalk, or scanned AND signed copies can be sent to aosullivan@louthcoco.ie.

Information on the fund along with the application can be found at http://www.louthcoco.ie/en/Louth_County_Council/Latest_News/The_Gathering_Ireland_Local_Community_Fund_Application_Form.html

There are currently 38 events registered on the Gathering website for County Louth and a stipulation for funding is that your event must be registered on the site. Details of how to register can be found at http://www.thegatheringireland.com/Create-A-Gathering.aspx

 

 

Comhairle na nÓg visit Leinster House

I was delighted to welcome members of Comhairle na nÓg from Dundalk and the North-East to Leinster House on Thursday. The took a guided tour of the Houses of the Oireachtas and spent some time soaking up the atmosphere in and around Kildare St.

Pictured here with the Comhairle group , Kevin Moran and Mary Deery.

Back to Education Allowance. Do we need to change the rules?

St John of God Drumcar launch Strictly DVD

Following on from the hughly successful Strictly Come Dancing fund-raiser in the TLT last month, a highly entertaining DVD of the night has been launched. 
Orders for the DVD are being taken so that everyone can re-live the glamour and excitement of the night.

Standared Version 1.5 hours long           10euro
Extended Version  3.5 hours long           15 euro.




Please email carol.mcgee@sjog.ie
or
Tel: 041 6862600

Women's Aid against Domestic Violence

I was delighted to attend a briefing by Women's Aid on Domestic Violence last week.

This week on Thursday, Nov 22nd,at 11am, Women's Aid will launch their One in Five Women Campaign at Leinster House  ahead of the 16 Days of Action opposing violence against women. They will release balloons to highlight that one in five women will suffer domestic abuse in their lifetime.

On the same day they will launch a new interactive OneInFiveWomen online
awareness video encouraging women living with domestic abuse to speak up and to call the Women's Aid National Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900.
You are also most welcome to join us to launch the our One in Five
Women Campaign ahead of the 16 Days of Action Opposing Violence against
Women on this Thursday, 22nd November at 11am, outside Dáil Eireann.
This balloon release will highlight that one in five women in Ireland
will experience domestic abuse during their lifetime.

They will also launch a new interactive #OneInFiveWomen online
awareness video encouraging women living with domestic abuse to speak up and to call the Women's Aid National Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900.

Electric Ireland Powering Kindness.Please support Special Olympics Ireland

Powering Kindness Week  is underway.
It's aim is to generate positive good will around Ireland for a week in November (17th – 23rd) in aid of three selected charities, Special Olympics Ireland, Concern Worldwide and Focus Ireland.

At the end of the week, €100,000 will be donated to the charities by Electric Ireland.

During Powering Kindness Week Electric Ireland are inviting the public to do a good deed or an act of kindness and they will transform the good deeds into a donation for the three charities that are part of the campaign.
Once a good deed is completed, it simply needs to be logged on the dedicated website (poweringkindness.ie) and assigned to the charity of choice.
There is no donation necessary, just assign it to the charity that you wish to benefit from the good deed.
Deed doers can then pass the deed onto friends, family or strangers and share the kindness. There is no limit to the number of good deeds an individual can do and the charities will benefit from every act of kindness completed during the week.

Cyberbullying. Private Members Business in the Seanad

We need to tackle the issue of bullying, particularly cyberbullying, in the wake of the tragic deaths of two teenage girls in the recent past.

Social Welfare Appeals

I spoke in the Seanad yesterday on the issue of Social Welfare Appeals and in particular on the issue of appeals for Domiciliary Care by parents of children with an intellectual disability.