Youth Council raises funds for CRY

Fermanagh Shadow Youth Council hosted its long awaited inter-school charity concert on Friday night entitled ‘Pump It Up’.  The hall in Mount Lourdes Grammar School was filled to capacity as Fermanagh youngsters prepared for the entertainment to embark the stage. 

Proceeds went to the council’s chosen charity, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) and on the night, the entertainment raised approximately £1,000.  The concert was organised in response to a recent study carried out by the council, in which more than half of the young people questioned, cited entertainment as their top priority issue.  Many recognised the need for more interschool and cross community events, as well as somewhere for young talent to perform. 

Money to host the concert was raised earlier in the year when members of the council packed shopping bags in supermarkets and sold their specially commissioned wristbands, bearing the slogan ‘Be Heard.’

Friday night was indeed a night for the crème de la crème of Fermanagh to expose their talent.  And, talent was what the audience got.  A wealth of music and dance kicked off the first half with singing by Madisson (Jemma McCleery and Aine Molloy), Lisa Gannon, Roisin Burns and Lauren Murphy and dance acts by WKD (Natasha, Leona and Amanda Little), Take Two (Anita Swift and Carla Melarky) and Stacy Morrow and Natasha Lee (pictured left). 

Instinct and flair were also displayed in the shape of the bands who sang and played a variety of musical instruments.  The groups included the Boners (Sean Swift and Ryan Finch), Loaded (Niall Carberry, Kieron Leonard, and Karl Ledwith), Impact (Callum Johnston, Alan McClintock, Sean-Paul Maguire, and Harry Ip), Jimmi (Thomas McLaughlin, Jason Collum, and Adam Byers) and Nemesis (David Lindsay, Sarah Wieghell, Adrian Mulgrew, Dwayne Maguire and Gareth Ritchie.) 

Diane Noble, project worker with Fermanagh Shadow Youth Council said the concert had been a credit to the councillors and delegates of the council and a tribute to the fatal victims of cardiac illness. 

“Despite the fun and laughter however, there was a serious note,” she explained. 

“The proceeds from the concert are going to Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).  CRY has produced a postcard with the faces of eight young people from Northern Ireland, representing the fact that eight young people die every week in the UK from cardiac related illnesses.  One of these faces is that of Richard Martin, a Portora student who died last November. 

"Richard’s brother Raymond was the first speaker between the initial two acts, to give a very moving and fitting tribute to his brother.  He also told the audience of the work of CRY and how the proceeds from the concert might be used.” 

During each of the performances the hall fell silent as the stories of the seven other young people were told, either by their family members or by the shadow councillors and delegates who read statements sent by the families of the young people. 

“Despite the mood being quickly lifted by the next performance, the stories will never be forgotten,” Diane added. 

The Shadow Youth Council thanked all involved for making the evening a memorable event to remember.  They expressed thanks to the staff of Mount Lourdes Grammar School and to all the businesses that provided prizes for the raffle.