An evening with Phil Coulter in Nenagh

Tickets are on sale for next month's 'An Evening with Phil Coulter' concert at St Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh.


For the past couple of years, the team behind the Ballycommon Sponsored Ride events have hosted the very successful 'An Evening With' concerts at St Mary's. The previous headline entertainers were Eurovision Song Contest winner Eimear Quinn and singer-songwriter Liam Lawton, along with the hugely popular In Tune for Life Orchestra.
The setting of St Mary of the Rosary Church is transformed in the most respectful way to allow one become totally immersed in a multi-sensory experience.


We are so excited to have multi award-winning musician, songwriter and record producer Phil Coulter on Friday, July 26th 2019. Phil has captured the ear of us all through his Tranquillity Albums; those familiar tunes have played the backdrop to the most salubrious of multi-star hospitality venues, while his songs have been recorded by a host of international stars throughout the world. His connection with the piano is seamless, as though one can't discern where the hand ends and the ivory begins.


Each year the BSR team support local charities that make a significant difference in people’s lives. The 2019 beneficiary of the concert is the Nenagh Special Summer Camp (NSSC). NSSC provides a special summer camp environment for children and adults with special needs.


Tickets are priced at just €35 for what is certain to be a memorable and exceptional night of entertainment. They are available now from Eason and Slattery's, Nenagh, members of Nenagh Special Summer Camp, the In Tune for Life Orchestra, or on 087 2430546. An Evening with Phil Coulter, proudly supporting Nenagh Special Summer Camp, will feature the In Tune for Life Orchestra and many special guests.

Nenagh Special Summer Camp... “Is there nowhere for me to go?” 

Over 31 years ago, Sinead Daffy, the parent of a special child, Donnacha, was attending a Parents Association meeting at Donnacha’s special school. A conversation around the lack of support for special children during the long holiday periods planted a seed in Sinead’s mind.


One parent there told the story of her experience during the summer holiday. As she was dropping off two of her children to a regular summer camp, she also had her special child in the back of the car. The two children going to their summer camp were full of the joys of meeting with their school buddies, anticipating a fun-filled few hours of play, etc.


It was probably only when they were getting out of the car that the special child realised that he wasn’t going and was excluded from this activity that had his siblings so excited. His mother glanced in the rear view mirror and saw that look on his face, the expression that said: “Is there nowhere for me to go?”


Sinead couldn’t get the words or the image out of her head. She got together with Judy Cornally and Emily O'Meara (RIP), both parents of children with special needs, and they canvassed friends and neighbours to make their dream of having a Special Summer Camp for children with special needs come true.


That first camp in 1988 catered for 10 children and ran for one week. This summer, 30 years on, Nenagh Special Summer Camp ran for six weeks and provided holiday fun and play for over 80 special needs children and adults (returning campers). A very dedicated team of adults organise a programme of activities and teenagers are recruited from the local second level schools. Each special child has a buddy for the week. With trips, outings and treats, it's a fun packed week for each child participating and parents get a well-deserved break.


The camp costs over €20,000 each year. A small grant is paid by the HSE and the rest is raised locally. Local businesses and community groups have contributed very generously each year. The organisers of the camp and the parents of the special needs children are most grateful to all who help.