A star-studded concert to thank all those involved in the aftermath of the Creeslough tragedy is to be held in Co Donegal in the new year.
The concert, 'Together for Creeslough', will feature such names as Brian McFadden, Brian Kennedy, Moya Brennan, Keith Duffy, Mickey Joe Harte, Lisa McHugh, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, The Whistling Donkeys and many more.
Ten people were killed when a mystery explosion ripped through the Applegreen Service Station in the Co Donegal village on the afternoon of Friday, October 7th.
The concert, which is being promoted by Joe Gallagher Entertainment, will be held at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny on January 30th next.
The gala evening, which will be co-hosted by Moya Brennan and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, will be a coming together of the Creeslough community in music and song as they look forward with hope to the future.
Those invited on the night will be the many first responders and all those who helped when tragedy struck the north Donegal village.
Showing appreciation
Former Westlife star Brian McFadden, who has relatives in Creeslough, joined a press conference at the Aura Leisure Centre today to announce details of the event.
McFadden said "I wanted to do something myself to show my appreciation to the people and what they went through and what they did and music is what we do.
"Luckily I got to see all my family and friends in Creeslough before all this happened and it's sad that I have to be coming home in these circumstances. But I'm glad when we come back this time we will be able to celebrate the positive things that have come out of this.
"The coming together of the community was incredible and something like this had turned the community up on its head and it is going to be here forever and for most of our lives we will never forget what happened.
"But the strength of the community has been incredible. Hopefully, on this night we can celebrate the people of Creeslough and how incredible they really were amongst all of this."
Creeslough priest Fr John Joe Duffy, who will be forever linked with the tiny village having officiated over the majority of the ten funerals, also attended the launch.
He said the concert was a thank you to all those who came to the aid of the people of the community in Creeslough following the tragedy.
"Creeslough wants to say a very big thank you to all those who came to our aid. The thing that I have heard so much amongst the families is that the families wanted to say thank you. They wanted to say thank you to each and every person.
Saying thank you
"Sometimes they can be forgotten but we have not forgotten the part that so many people came and risked their own lives and so this is our way of saying thank you.
"I want to thank all the artistes and musicians for coming together and making this event happen and helping us to come together. Coming together is so very important because a burden shared is a burden eased somewhat. I believe this is part of the ongoing healing process that we have been involved in," he said.
Clannad star Moya Brennan, who will co-host the event, said she hoped the music on the night would reassure the families that the public are still thinking of them.
She said "It's music what we do as we can show out appreciation for everybody including the first responders and everyone and for the families and to let them know that we are with them. It's something that they will have to go through for quite a long time so we would just like to extend out hand out to them.
She added that she had many fond memories of her late father Leo playing in the Creeslough Hall and playing 'Cutting the corn down in Creeslough today' and going dancing at the Feis in Creeslough.
"It means a lot to be part of this and I'm honoured and privileged to be part of it and amongst such great musicians" she added.
TG4 will also record the event on the night for a two-hour television special to be shown after the event.
