The three 16 year olds are in Transition Year and they chose Childhood Cancer Foundation Ireland as the beneficiary because one of the team, Jack, was diagnosed with childhood leukaemia when he was three years old.
“I spent three and a half years going up and down to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin for chemotherapy and to say that life was not what every child would wish for during those years is an understatement.”
“However, with all the love, support and help of both the medical professionals and most importantly my family, friends and community, I am one of the lucky ones. I am now cancer free and have been discharged from all medical services for the last few years.”
Like all young music groups, December is usually concert time for Kilbride and Lakeside Band, but in this year of Covid-19 it wasn t to be.
Having had no weekly rehearsals for most of the year, the young musicians decided to save their energy for a different plan. Each young musician receives a weekly lesson at Manor Kilbride Music School, and since the students returned to their lessons in September, they have been practising diligently, improving their skills from week to week.
They each decided to perfect one piece of music and record it, using the equipment available at their musical home base, The Millennium Centre, Old Court, Manor Kilbride. Musical director Colm O Hara then made a compilation CD of all the tracks, and finished it just in time for a planned Christmas event.