A LONDON-based Irish charity is hosting its first major fundraiser on Saint Patrick's Day with an ambitious target of £20,000.
The Irish Elderly Advice Network has been supporting the Irish population of London for over 20 years and is raising the £20,000 sum to help fund their welfare and culture services.
The charity will launch its fundraiser on March 17 with the help of musician Paul 'Mad Dog' McGuinness.
A lunch will be held for pensioners in St Thomas Moore Church, Manor House, followed by an evening of Irish music at Mondegreen Folk Club and Ryan's Bar in Stoke Newington.
The Irish music extravaganza will include performances from Paul, who is formerly of Shane MacGowan and the Popes, as well as father-daughter duo Hannah and Stephen O'Driscoll along with a host of other acts.
Irish Elderly Advice works to combat poverty, isolation and distress amongst the older Irish population in Britain.
The network also offers important advice on welfare such as housing issues and conduct home visits to those who cannot access the outreach centres in North and East London.
Paul McGuinnessMargaret Geiger, Head of Housing, said: "We are seeing it made harder and harder to access the financial support needed for older people to live a dignified life.
"Every penny donated to us goes into our work so anything people feel able to do, well we will be so grateful to them.
The network aims to empower older Irish people and for them to be seen as not just recipients of financial support.
"If there is one thing that can get can bring a community together it is music."
Among some of the activites and groups organised by the network is The Irish Pensioners' Choir - founded by the Irish Elderly Advice Network almost 15 years ago.
The choir have performed in venues large and small from care homes to the Trafalgar Square St Patrick's Day celebrations in London, to ITV with the late Terry Wogan.
The choir has been a lifeline and has brought great fun, friendship, performance, music and Irish songs into the daily lives of older people.
Chair of the charity, Alice Kennedy said: "We hope there'll be great support for this campaign and that people will come forward to help.
"The fact that all the musicians are playing for free on St Patrick's night, to help us launch our fundraising appeal, really means a lot to us older Irish people," the 79-year-old added.
Lunch will be held at St Thomas Moore Church, 9 Henry Rd N4 2LN, from 1-3.30pm on Friday, March 17 accompanied by a sing song and some live traditional music. Tickets are £10 for adults, £2 for children and £5 for pensioners.
The fundraiser will then be hosted by Ryan's Bar, 181 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 OUL and tickets will be £5 on the door.
Contact Nora to confirm your place at the St Patricks day fundraiser by emailing [email protected]
