Tickets now on sale for ‘I’ve Got the Music in Me’ on February 16
A music celebration to aid the recovery of one of Mayo’s most popular musicians and music teachers, Dervilla Hynes, Castlebar and Straide, takes place in Claremorris Town Hall Theatre on Thursday, February 16, at 8pm.
Dervilla, a neurologic music therapist who performs with Mayo Concert Orchestra, is recuperating well following major surgery at the Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, on January 6 last. The surgery involved the removal of a tumour, known by its medical term as Oligodendroglioma, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
It was the second time she has faced such a challenging setback to her health in the space a few short years - but her strength, resilience, effervescent personality and support of family and friends have stood her in good stead.
She was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2015 and her post-surgery recovery then resulted in her having to work hard to regain her speech and her ability to walk as well as to play her cello and trumpet again.
She is at home in Straide with her parents, Declan and Geraldine, as well as her sisters Michelle, Darina and Karin, where she is on the road to making a full recovery. Her popular Twitter account, @DervillaH, keeps everyone posted on her progress.
Her many friends have donated over €34,800 to date to a GoFundMe appeal to help cover the large medical costs involved in her treatment and recovery.
Now members of the music fraternity across the region are coming together to help Dervilla and her family to cope with the financial and other challenges that lie ahead over the coming months.
Wonderful programme
Kathy Fahey, the director of Mayo Concert Orchestra, has put together a wonderful programme for a concert dedicated to Dervilla and entitled ‘I’ve Got the Music in Me.’
Topping the bill are the legendary Seán Keane and two of The Saw Doctor’s brightest stars, Leo Moran and Padraig Stephens, the latter of whom has also recorded and performed with The Waterboys, Dé Danann and The Stunning.
While not on stage with The Saw Doctors, Leo and Padraig have performed together in recent years, showcasing their talents at venues across the country.
Seán Keane, who toured with the Mayo Concert Orchestra prior to Covid, is loved by audiences for his distinctive sean-nós style voice in the delivery of his beautiful selection of songs. They will be joined on stage by Mayo Concert Orchestra and the Chapel Street Gospel Choir, of which Kathy Fahey is also the director.
Said Kathy: “It’s a privilege and honour for all of us to be staging this concert as a way of thanking our good friend Dervilla for all her great work in the sphere of performing arts over many years and wish her all the best in her recovery to full health.
“I am sure it will be an emotional occasion in many ways and we hope as many people as possible will be able to join us.”
The Hynes family said they are thankful to everybody involved in staging the concert for Dervilla. It promises to be a unique and memorable night of musical entertainment which those in attendance will richly enjoy.
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Tickets are available from the Box Office in Claremorris at 094 9310999 or townhall.ie.