On Good Friday 2012 (6th April), I will be joining a team of eager fundraisers led by Goldenplec owner Aidan Cuffe in driving from Dublin to Achill Island on the east coast of Ireland and back in a single day. Along the way, we will be stopping for numerous slices of toast, cups of tea and for a performance from – with a bit of luck – a different musician of some form in a different town in every county all the way across the country. The entire thing is in aid of Downs Syndrome Ireland. I should make it clear at this point that I’m not one of the organizers, I’m simply along for journalistic purposes, to document the event and – with a bit of luck – grab some good publicity for it; I’ve had precious little to do with the organization. But it seems to be coming together really well, I have a feeling an epic day is in store.
The main reason I vwanted to get involved in this – the obvious charity part aside (donate here, if you can spare the cash…) – is that it just sounds like the most fun ever. There’s a huge line up of bands, Aidan and co are always good for a whole lot of laughs, and we’ll be making flying visits every few miles to see someone we’ve almost certainly never heard of, live blogging it from the car whilst storming off to the next place, and if the organizers can find the five minutes it takes, I’ll certainly be dunking myself in the Atlantic at Achill to mark half way. Here’s the line up to date:
7.30AM – Portmarnock [Jail Chase acoustic] – CONFIRMED
8:00AM – Dunboyne from 8:00am (Dunboyne town) – [Clara Monaghan] – CONFIRMED
8:20AM – Maynooth (Maynooth shopping centre) – [Lost Colours, She’s A Beauty] – CONFIRMED
9:03AM – West Meath (Topaz Mullingar, West Meath motor group) – [_Strays] – CONFIRMED
9:50AM – Longford (Longford Shopping centre)
10:25AM – Strokestown (Entrance to Strokestown Park) – [Red Sail] – CONFIRMED
11:55AM – Castlebar, Mayo – (Topaz just past town centre) – [Struck] – PENDING
13:18AM – Achill Island
15:45AM – Ballymoe, Galway [Eamon Brett – solo ukelele] – CONFIRMED
16:12AM – Roscommon Town, (Topaz / Supermac / Papa Johns) – [We Town Criers] – CONFIRMED
16:46AM – Westmeath (Athlone) (Topaz entering town) [The Rusty Fixtures] – CONFIRMED
17:42AM – Tullamore, Offaly – (Topaz/Centra Western Relief Road) [Gaz Le Roc – One Man Show] – CONFIRMED
18:22AM – PortLaois, (Gandon Court Topaz) – [The Little Smoke] – CONFIRMED
19:02AM – Newbridge, (Maxol Garage) – [Fighting For Jane] – CONFIRMED
19:58AM – Malahide – Malahide Yacht Club – [Jet Set Radio,Sive, Couch Surfer,Good Call, Boy Lights Fire, The Quicksand Band, Jemson Green, Liz Seever, Martin Piehlmeier, The Spikes, Changing Gears, Good Call —- More to be confirmed] – CONFIRMED – MORE WELCOME
Of course, if you know someone who plays music in Longford (or would feel like adding to the huge Malahide Yacht Club line up and could spare a few minutes on Friday, shout!). As it stands that’s 25 bands worth of fun and games and a double trip across the country in a single day. I certainly can’t think of a better way to spend Good Friday! I’ll report back during and after, with photos, videos and general ramblings on the fun that’s had in due course. You can read a whole lot more by clicking that ‘donate’ link above.
Horray for charitable silliness!
J x