Daniel O’Donnell was one of a number of Donegal music superstars to take to the stage in Crolly last night, as part of a fundraiser to help rebuild St Mary’s Church in Bunbeg.
The tight-knit West Donegal community was rocked after the sudden fire consumed the church early on Easter Monday.
However, that same community has come together with a commitment to rebuild after the devastating blaze left only the steel support shell of Teach Pobail Mhuire left standing.
A GoFundMe page launched in the hours after the fire has now raised over €110,000 of its initial €130,000 goal.
Last night’s star-studded fundraising concert at Teach Phaídí Óig in Crolly is sure to add a couple of figures to that total.
Daniel O’Donnell, Clannad’s Moya Brennan and Altan’s Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh were joined by a wide array of local musical talent for the special show.
Before his performance, Daniel spoke to the crowd about how important it was for him to be there last night.
“When I heard that this was happening, in fact I wasn’t meant to be home this weekend at all,” Daniel told the packed crowd last night.
“Myself and Majella were up babysitting in Banbridge, and I was going to Dublin to do something – and (but) what I had to do, I didn’t need to do it.”
“And I sayd to Majella – ‘You know, I think I’ll just go home now and we’ll go to Dublin on Sunday. About a half an hour after (that) the phone rang, and Paul Wallace was there on the phone.”
“He said: ‘What will you be doing at the weekend, are you in Tenerife or will you be home?’ I said ‘aye I’m coming home,’ and now he told me about this.”
“So I suppose god puts everybody in the right direction and they should be in some place.”
“I’m delighted to be here, I’m saddened for what happened in Gweedore, but I suppose that out of the ashes great things grow, and I know that you’ll rebuild and you’ll have a place that you’ll gather (in) again.”
“That chapel is not just a building, and it’s not just a holy place, it’s belonging to the people – teach pobail – that’s what it is, the house of the people.”
