Mini Live Aid proves a big hit

THE sequel to Mini Live Aid 2020 proved to be another massive success, after a singer transformed his road into an outdoor concert in aid of Laura Lynn Foundation.

Last year, Ballyfermot resident Damien McElligott held Mini Live Aid out of his front garden in Colepark and last Saturday, he did the same to great success.

With the road blocked off for the duration of the event, people just needed to bring their own chair to enjoy the festivities.

Some of the finest singers from around such as X Factor star and Ballyfermot resident Mary Byrne, Mick “The Busker” McLoughlin and James Brown performed a set in the marquee.

Although final calculations have not been made, Damien believes that  the final figure raised for the Laura Lynn Foundation will be close to €2,000 when all is said and done.

“When it started off I was maybe a bit worried, the weather wasn’t great but after it eased off, there was easily 100 people out at it on the road,” Damien told The Echo.

“By the end of the night we had a bit of line dancing and a conga on the road, it was good fun.”

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Organised alongside Dean Cullen and Norman Clifford, Damien was inspired to raise funds for Laura Lynn after watching a programme on the television.

The Laura Lynn Foundation is a charity which provides specialist palliative care for children and respite to young children with severe intellectual disabilities.

“I was trying to pick a charity, a lot of charities are government funded and some rely more on fundraising,” he continued.

“I was watching a programme on the television about children who were terminally ill and it got me thinking, thank god I have five healthy children.

“They’re my absolute life, it would break my heart if anything was to happen to them.

“I thought then what is more deserving of charity than terminally ill children?”

With another successful event in the bag, Damien has already turned his attention to the future of Mini Live Aid at Colepark.

“Last year I asked everybody in the industry I knew to come out and sing at it, so it was the same again.

“We had Tony Vincent, who was home for a few days from Benidorm, Mary Byrne always gets a crowd, a puppet show, Elvis and Ed Sheeran tributes, there was loads.

“Even when it was over I had people texting me the next day asking if I could keep them in mind for next year.

“So I think we’re going to make it an annual thing.

“It’s a very positive thing, we’re raising money for charity and bringing music to the people.”