On Sunday May 29th, the “You Raise Me Up” charity concert at the RDS Concert Hall will raise funds for the children’s charity Zest4kidz.
The concert is a celebration of the opening of the Jean Carley Children’s Hospital in Uganda, which uses its funds to perform life-changing orthopedic surgery on afflicted children.
It will be headlined by Irish Soprano Celine Byrne, who recently performed a sellout concert with José Carreras at the Royal Albert Hall in London. She will be joined onstage by pianist Dearbhla Brosnan, violinist Lynda O’Connor and mezzo-soprano Gina Oberoi.
The setlist will include Irish standards such as The Lark in the Clear Air, I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls and Danny Boy, along with well-known opera pieces like O mio babbino Caro, The Flower Duet and Un bel Di from Madame Butterfly.
The Jean Carley Children’s Hospital is the completion of five years of work led by Robert and Jean Carley, in which a team of 14 volunteers worked in Uganda with former child soldiers. The experience was particularly moving for Jean, who began raising money to construct a rehabilitation building in the area. Though Jean sadly passed away on 8th September, 2012, her family have carried on her work and ensured its completion.
Robert Carley spoke about completing his wife’s work and how the concert will contribute to it:
“This is our way of honouring the memory of an amazing wife, mother and friend who died having suffered an aneurism and it expresses her love for children and those who need love and support. The hospital will now be a base where many children will receive life changing orthopedic surgery. I would encourage anyone who wants a truly entertaining evening while at the same time supporting a truly great organization and amazing work in Uganda, to buy their ticket now.”.
Tickets for the event cost €25 and can be bought at https://www.ticketmaster.ie/.
By Kevin Carney