Country singer Margo O’Donnell is doing a fundraising concert in aid of Sister Consilio and her Cuan Mhuire centres around Ireland. The show will be staged at the Carrickdale Hotel, Dundalk, on Thursday, 4 December, at 8pm. The Donegal entertainer is asking people to lend their support to this worthwhile venture.

“Sister Consilio launched the first Cuan Mhuire Centre in Athy back in 1966. At the time, it was mainly catering for those with a drink addiction. In the years since then, it has broadened out to care and treat others with various forms of addition and related issues,” says Margo.

“There is probably not a family in the country that has not been touched by some of these addictions. Sister Consilio and her wonderful team have done enormous work through their outreach programme for close on 50 years. Their achievements have been phenomenal.”

It is estimated that Cuan Mhuire has treated in excess of 75,000 people since its inception. Its main objective is the rehabilitation of people suffering from alcohol, drug and gambling addictions. At any given time, Cuan Mhuire has 600 people in treatment through their nationwide centres in Bruree (Limerick), Farnanes (Cork), Coolarne (Galway), Newry and Athy.

Sister Consilio was born Eileen Fitzgerald to farming parents, just outside Brosna in Co Kerry. She attended the Convent of Mercy in Abbeyfeale and was later professed a nun. Joining Margo and her band for the big night will be Ciaran Rosney from Offaly, a winner at our Country Sounds Awards night in Athlone last March. The show starts at 8pm and tickets are available from the Carrickdale Hotel.

Riviera Showband member dies

The death took place last week of Kevin Maloney, Cloonfad and Charlestown. Kevin was a member of the original Riviera Showband, which played many of the big venues around the country back in the 1960s.

They were based in east Mayo and fronted by Shea Cribbin, who later lived in Dublin for many years.

The seven-member band comprised Shea Cribbin (RIP), Malachy Tiernan (RIP), Gerry Foley, John Conway, Patsy Haugh, Brendan O’Grady and Kevin Maloney. The band had a sizeable hit with Love and The Country, a number composed by Malachy Tiernan and Patsy Haugh, and performed by Shea Cribbin.

They were managed by Seamus Cox from Aghamore.

Kevin (69) operated his own Hillside Studio in Cloonfad on the Roscommon-Mayo-Galway border for some years.

He produced a number of local albums and was always ready and willing to support good causes, especially those related to cancer support and palliative care services.

Condolences are tendered to his family and many friends at this sad time.

Daniel on the double

Rosette Records have issued a new two-CD set of the live soundtrack of the full Daniel O’Donnell Stand Beside Me concert.

The 39-track compilation features an array of the Donegal man’s favourites, as well as some recent recordings. There are also a number of duets with Mary Duffy, as well as one with his long-time guitar player John Staunton. Kevin Sheerin and Mary Duffy come together to duet on In My Father’s House, a song composed by Kevin.

Many of the songs are classics from over the years and will be familiar to Daniel’s legion of fans.

The collection is now available in record stores and further information can be had from rosetterecords.com

Busy time for Kerrigan

Donegal man Brian Kerrigan maintains a busy time on the regional circuit. Between gigging and recording, the Letterkenny man is seldom off call.

Brian’s new 12-track album, Don’t Blame Me, is out now. It’s a nice blend of country standards ranging from Pass Me By to Small Town Saturday Night.

The title track was composed by Anthony McBrien from Fermanagh.

The album also features duets with Chris Logue on Come On In, Gerry Guthrie on This One’s Gonna Hurt and with Sinead Taggard on Hopelessly Yours. It was recorded in Harmony Studios in Letterkenny.

Good pickings for Carlow’s Derek Ryan

Good old songs always retain a charm. Pick a Bale of Cotton has been a favourite sing-along going back to the mists of time. Derek Ryan was not slow to recognise the lasting appeal of this American folk song and included it on his chart-topping album The Simple Things. The song is proving so popular at his dance shows that he has released it as his latest single.

Derek, who was honoured with the Male Artist of the Year Award at our recent NI Awards night in the Armagh City Hotel, shows no signs of slowing down as he performs a hectic schedule of shows week after week.

He especially enjoyed his recent trip to Australia, where he performed a number of shows and met many of the young Irish who are now working there. Lots of those who attended the shows were delighted to see one of their own from back home come out to entertain them. Plans are already underway for a return visit to Australia.