THE DUBLINERS star Sean Cannon will lead the celebrity line up for an online fundraiser taking place this week supporting the Margaret Keane Memorial Fund.
Based in Coventry, Cannon is the first star to be announced for the event, which is due to be streamed live on the Message to Margaret Facebook page on Friday, July 3 from 7.30pm.
It is designed to raise money for the fund set up in the name of Margaret Keane, a Coventry-based Meath woman who died in 2018.
In May the Chancellor of the Diocese of Coventry, Stephen Eyre QC, ruled the phrase ‘In our hearts forever’ could not be allowed on her gravestone in Gaelic in “English-speaking Coventry” without a translation, as it could be deemed to be a “political statement” or some kind of “slogan”.
More recently the same judge denied the family permission to appeal against his decision, leaving the family to take their battle further and request an appeal through the Dean or Arches.
That process is still ongoing.
Co. Meath native Margaret Keane died in 2018 (Pic: Chris Egan)To honour Margaret, who spent a lifetime volunteering for the local GAA and working within the parish of St Giles Church, a Memorial Fund was set up ensure her life can be celebrated.
The memorial fund has three key ambitions: To fund children from Roger Casements GAA club’s underage team to attend their annual exchange home to Ireland.
To commission an independent study exploring the impact of public decision making on Black and Minority Ethnic groups including issues of power, privilege and prejudice and its impact on race relations.
And to support further legal or policy challenges to any possible discriminatory impact of Diocesan regulations or practices, with the intention to ensure equality of opportunity to all engaging in such processes.
Announcing this week’s event on the Message to Margaret Facebook page, the organisers confirmed: “With support from some of Coventry’s amazing Irish talent we are so excited to announce, happening this Friday 3rd July, an evening of Irish dance, music and performance to promote the Margaret Keane Memorial Fund.”
They add: “Join Sean Cannon from the Dubliners and friends... more acts revealed throughout the week...”
Watch all the action live here.
