A great night in
Michael O'Connor CBE
Board Member | Strategic Communications, Stakeholder Engagement
Charities have seen their income fall at a time when more people need their help. You will receive requests to help and as Vice Chair of the London Irish Centre I am asking for help.
But we are also offering something - a free great night in from 8PM on Thursday 11th June hosted online by our Patron Dermot O’ Leary, followed by a brilliant line up of talented Irish artists in Ireland and the UK including: Niall Horan; Imelda May; Damien Dempsey; Loah; Robert Sheehan; Mundy; Stephen James Smith; Dara O’ Briain and others. It will be both Irish and multicultural, representing modern Ireland in all its diversity.
You can catch it on:
https://www.facebook.com/events/300577880984808/ or
https://www.youtube.com/user/LondonIrishCentre?app=desktop
Why do we need the money (you can donate on https://londonirishdonate.org/index.php)? Due to the Pandemic we have had to completely reshape our services to continue serving those most in need - providing food, advice and company. Many of the people we support are isolated, disconnected and away from loved ones. Some are living with the very real fear of family loss in this difficult time.
As we begin to take our first steps towards recovery, we are also looking into how we can best deliver essential services into the future. COVID-19 has shown us that there is such a thing as society and we need to turn this challenge into an opportunity to extend our arms to all those in need, to tackle the isolation which blights too many lives, to reduce the inequalities and lack of opportunities which imprison whole sections of our society and stops them living up to their potential for their advantage but also to the benefit of all of us.
So I hope you will join us for a good time on Thursday night and stay with us as we build for the future.
The event will be streamed on our Facebook and YouTube channels, and will also include a charity auction with the opportunity to win great prizes. Throughout the evening we hope to raise a total of ￡100,000 for the older Irish community, as well as lifting everybody’s spirits through a night of music, interviews, and conversation.
For now, our London Irish Centre team works to deliver critical services, rebuild income, and support our staff and volunteers to respond to fast-changing needs. We have been humbled to receive so many offers of help so far, and every single one makes a difference. For that, I thank you.
We will keep you posted on our work, on our vision, and on the part, you can play in the London Irish Centre’s journey.
For now, please stay safe and well, and we look forward to seeing you on Thursday night.