Rhythms in May

Marc to perform at Rhythms in May for Western Care

Marc with Annette Griffin & John Staunton

Western Care Association is delighted to announce details of the second Rhythms in May variety concert that will take place in the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris on Wednesday, May 14th next. The concert will be presented and produced by Annette Griffin and John Staunton. This is the third fundraising concert they have arranged for Western Care; Annette and John are delighted to be supporting the Association which provides essential services to more than one thousand children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families in a community setting throughout County Mayo.

Annette Griffin who is resident singer, entertainer and harpist at the world famous Ashford Castle in Cong, now owned by the Red Carnation Hotel Group, has entertained US Presidents, Heads of State, Movie stars and people from all walks of life. Annette, formerly chief harpist at Bunratty Castle and a member of the famed Bunratty Singers, has appeared on stage with Tony Bennett, Tommy Fleming, Andy Cooney and Daniel O’Donnell. Her beautiful voice has captivated audiences from New York to Los Angles and in theatres and concert halls all over Ireland and the UK. John Staunton, a native of Ballintober, County Roscommon, is a musician, singer and entertainer. He played with the Premier Aces and the TR Dallas band in the early 1980s and has been guitarist, singer and MC with the Daniel O’Donnell band for the past 26 years. He has toured extensively throughout Ireland and the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and more recently, Sri Lanka. John also performs his own one-man shows, playing a variety of music including country, Irish and some 60’s and 70’s pop.

Annette and John will be joined by special guests Marc Roberts, Seamus McGee, David Langan, Frank Forde and musical director, Brendan O'Byrne. Crossmolina native, Marc Roberts, first came to international prominence when he represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest and came second with Mysterious Woman. Marc has received much acclaim for his many recordings, stage and TV performances, he has co-written songs with many top songwriters including Brian Kennedy, Charlie McGettigan and Jimmy MacCarthy. At present Marc a presenter with Galway Bay FM and has recorded a series on Irish entertainment and festivals for Irish Way TV. Seamus McGee commenced his musical career as lead vocalist with the Nashville Showband. Seamus is a native Irish speaker and has recorded and written some beautiful Irish songs and is currently working on a project to help promote the Irish language and the culture of his native Gweedore, County Donegal.

David Langan, a native of Ballinrobe, has been singing and acting around the West of Ireland for many years, mostly with the musical societies of Mayo and Galway. He was the leading man in Ballinrobe Musical Society’s last two productions, has been nominated twice as best male singer by AIMS and has also appeared on RTE Radio and TV. Castlebar comedian and impressionist, Frank Forde, is well established on the theatre circuit around the country and abroad. He has appeared on the Late Late Show and has a regular spot on the Joe Duffy Funny Friday Radio Show. Michael Noonan, Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Colm O'Rourke, Jackie Healy Rae, Padraig Flynn, President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach, Enda Kenny are among his victims! Musical director and accompanist for the concert, Brendan O'Byrne, is a much respected musician in the west of Ireland. He has been resident pianist at Ashford Castle for many years, is also a keen songwriter and composer and has written many songs and pieces for piano and orchestra.

This fabulous variety concert is being promoted by Western Care Association and Cáirde Crann Mór, Ballinrobe. Tickets have just gone on sale and are available from the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris, Martin Murphy Newsagents and Western Care's Crann Mór Training Centre, Ballinrobe, Western Care Head Office, Castlebar (phone 094 9029136/144) and online at www.iregister.ie/ mayconcert.