Meath based Singer/songwriter Maria Butterly, the driving force behind the hugely successful Mothers of Ukraine Charity fundraising concert held recently in Drogheda’s TLT recently presented a cheque for €10,028 to UNICEF representative Amy Maher, to help those most in need.
The concert – which was in association with Pat Egan Management – featured performances from Sean Keane, Donal Lunny and Paddy Glackin, violinist Vladimir Jublokov, St. Peter’s Male Voice Choir with MD Edward Holly, the powerhouse Ukrainian singer Maryna Odelksa, and Maria herself.
That stellar line-up was backed by a backing band with the steady hand of the great Bill Shanley (who also produces many of Maria’s songs and albums, including her recent single Hero) leading James Blennerhasset on bass, and Jason Duffy on drums throughout the night, while LMFM presenter Sinead Brassil orchestrated proceedings as MC.
Reflecting on the concert – which saw Counsellor Ms. Olena Shalopu, Deputy Head of Mission for Ukraine, join Drogheda Mayor James Byrne among those in attendance – Maria remarked that every artist had treated the audience to performances “from the heart”.
“The consensus among people who have been in touch with me since is that Sean Keane really set the crowd alight opening the show. Likewise, the beautiful renditions of classic songs with their eloquent harmonies as performed by St Peters Male Voice Choir and MC Edward Holly will live long in the memory.
“Donal Lunny and Paddy Glackin – as you’d expect – raised the roof, and Vladimir Jablokov wooed all before him with pieces like ‘Libertango’, ‘Radetsky March’, and the famous piece from ‘Schindler’s List’, too.”
“And in what was a very special moment for me personally”, Maria added, “Vladimir also beautifully performed an Irish tune I wrote, one titled ‘Tonn na hEireann’, which means ‘Irish Wave’.”
While Maria was very much to the fore in making the Mothers of Ukraine concert a reality, she readily acknowledges that the journey would have been incredibly difficult without the support that poured in from so many directions…
“There wasn’t one single instance where I asked someone to help in some particular way, and it didn’tt didn’t happen” she said. That’s a reflection of how willing so many people were to do whatever they could, and I honestly can’t express enough my gratitude or appreciation for every single person and organisation who came on-board.
“I’d like to send a special thank you, though, to Drogheda Credit Union in particular, for their immediate and very generous support as one of our prominent sponsors. I’ve been a member of the Credit Union since I was just ten years old, and it was through them that I was able to purchase my first car. They were the first local business to come on board and support this event in the very early stages.”
For more information and a full list of Maria’s thank-you’s visit her official website, www.mariabutterly.com
