Concert to raise funds for Sergio

KINVARA is to host a benefit concert featuring members of Buttons and Bows and the complete Brock Maguire Band this weekend. The concert is to raise money for the medical costs of Sergio O’Connor, the Dublin-born baby, who was born with an incomplete oesophagus.

 

Sergio is a member of the well-known O’Connor musical family in Dublin. His dad, Dónal, is a fiddle player and his grandfather is the flute player, Mick O’Connor. His grandmother is from Clare. Donal is also a regular teacher at the Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay.

One of the concert organisers, Máire O’Keeffe said, “We know Donal and the O’Connor family for years. I have a long association with them. I remember Mick O’Connor [Donal’s father] when I was a young musician and he was incredibly supportive of young musicians. Then I got to know his family in Dublin and became aware then about this situation with Sergio.”

Sergio was born in March last year with a number of complications, among them a rare condition, which prevents him from eating, drinking or swallowing. Sergio has a 5cm gap between his oesophagus and stomach.

Sergio’s parents, Rosa and Donal, as well as his medical team are hoping that a ground-breaking procedure at the Oesophageal Advanced Centre in the Children’s Hospital, Boston will allow his oesophagus to be repaired, rather than replaced, giving him a better quality of life.

“The situation with Sergio would have to resonate with anyone with children. Just the thought of something like this happening is difficult to comprehend.

“We would really like to see everyone coming along and helping to raise money for Sergio’s treatment but if they cannot make it on the night, it would be great if they could go onto the website and make donations that way,” Máire added.

Kinvara Young Musicians (KYM), Seamus and Manus McGuire with Garry O’Briain, Maire O’Keeffe and Eilish O’Connor, Carol Campbell and the Brock McGuire Band will perform on the night.

“The quality of the line-up is very special because Buttons and Bows were one of the top groups in the 1980s and ’90s and Manus, Seamus and Gerry were integral to that group. Seamus is usually in Letterkenny so we don’t often get to hear him in this part of the country. It is unusual nowadays that we get to hear this kind of music so this should be a real treat.

“As for the Brock McGuire Band, they really speak for themselves. It will be great to have so many talented performers in the one place but the hall is not very big and there has already been phenomenal interest, so I would encourage people to come along early,” Máire continued.

“If people want to make a weekend out of it in Kinvara, there promises to be lots of events going on in the village on Sunday, with the family day in aid of the RNLI. That is turning into an annual event and is usually good fun. People could come along for the gig on Saturday night and then go along to that,” she added.

The concert takes place in Johnson’s Hall, Kinvara on Saturday night and doors open at 8pm.