A star studded concert to raise funds for LARCC Cancer Centre is to take over the Greville Arms Hotel, Mullingar, on Tuesday, 8 March.
‘Country for Cancer’ will include top names such as Mullingar’s very own country star, Camillus Egerton, John Hogan, Dave Lawlor and the Ryan Turner Band in what will be a night not to be missed.
Organiser Camillus told Topic that he is a great advocate of the work done at the centre which provides a range of services to help and support people living with cancer and their families. “Management showed me through the centre and it’s a fantastic facility. The work they do there is amazing. Only a small per cent of the work there is funded by the government, so they rely heavily on fundraising to keep going.”
Camillus is no stranger to fundraising for the centre and last September he launched his album, ‘Singin’ The Legends in the Greville Arms Hotel, Mullingar, with the proceeds also going to LARCC. “I released a couple of albums in recent years and between the two of them, I was able to give the centre €14,000.”
Another Westmeath country heavyweight, ‘Prince of Irish country music’ John Hogan will also be taking to the stage on the night. Raised in Kilbeggan, he began his career in 1987 when he recorded a song entitled ‘Brown Eyes’, which made it to number one in the Irish Country Music charts and remained there for several weeks. Over his 30 year career, he has toured Ireland, the United Kingdom as well as Spain, Portugal and St. Lucia, where he was given the title ‘Freeman of St. Lucia’.
Camillus said that cancer treatment has always been a topic very close to his heart after his mother was diagnosed in her early thirties. “My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1968 when she was 34 and I always said that I’d like to do something to give back and help someone else. She got her treatment in Mullingar and thankfully she has been cancer-free for many years now.”
Camillus started music at the tender age of nine years old when he was a member of the family band. “I come from a family of seven and every one of us could play. Our parents encouraged us to get involved with music from when we were very young. I love performing. I could play seven nights a week.”
Last year, John Hogan approached the musician about doing a summer tour and toured the country.
“We’re just thankful to still have our mother alive and if we can help other people in some small way, it’s great and they are so dependent on these funds. John Cochrane and the Greville have been great and we’ve had a lot of support.”
MC for the night will be Kevin Lalor Fitzpatrick from Midland’s 103 ‘Saturday Night Show’.
Tickets are €12 and the show starts at 8pm and are available at the Greville Arms Hotel.
